The portly flunkeys who ushered me up to her ladyship's boudoir were most obsequious in their attentions to me, and carried all my parcels up as well. In fact I was quite at a loss to account for such respect being shown to one who I knew in their hearts they merely regarded as a young counter-jumper.
"What is your name, sir?" said her ladyship, looking up from a book which she was reading as she reclined on an ottoman in a kind of loose dressing-gown, having evidently discarded her dress after her morning drive.
"Mr. Saul, at your ladyship's service, with a lot of silks for selection from Cygnet and Ego's. Will your ladyship be pleased to have them brought up?"
"Bring them up, James, and tell William I want some wine and biscuits, as I may keep this gentleman some time making the selection. When there are so many beautiful patterns it is so difficult to make up one's mind. Pray be seated, sir, for I'm sure they keep you on your legs long enough in those nigger-driving shops."
There was an indefinable something, besides the kindness of her manners, which at once put me at my ease with this beautiful lady, and my prick was so mannerless as to stand at once under the influence of her soft, loving eyes, eyes of an etherean blue, set under a lovely pair of dark eyebrows and ornamented with a fringe of dark lashes, through which she seemed to look at you.
There was just a slight perceptible flush on her pale cheeks, and to add to the charm of her exceeding beauty, she had a splendid chevelure of really golden hair, small pearly teeth, and cherry lips, which almost made me beside myself to contemplate.
"Help yourself to a glass of wine, Mr. Saul," she said. "You must need it; besides, I am so difficult to please, you will have no easy time of it in unrolling and rolling up again all those silks you have brought. No ceremony; help yourself."
"What; not pledge me?" she said, with an arch smile. "Pour me out a glass if you please, and hand the biscuits."
The blood rushed to my face, as I stammered out my excuse that I feared to take such a liberty.