Page:Lady Anne Granard 1.pdf/271

266 you will not say that every pretty married woman indulged in flirtation?" "Certainly the pretty bride did not: but her example was disregarded. Had I been the husband of either Lady Penrhyn or Lady Allerton, I would" "What would you have done, most worshipful follower of Mahomed?" said Arthur, laughing. "I would have compelled them to remain closely veiled in the harem for many months, and fed them on bread and water!" This was spoken with so much earnestness and simplicity, that every one laughed except Lady Anne, who warmly applauded the sentence, made many inquiries respecting the habits of women in the East, and greatly approved of all those circumstances, in conduct and education, which indicated obedience on the part of females. She knew "such doctrines were out of date, but she had strictly adhered to them in her plan of education, and the husbands of her daughters would reap the benefit of it. She had been herself an obedient wife (this required a great gulp on the part of her neighbours), and she trusted they would follow her example. She had, in fact, no patience with such women as Lady Penrhyn and Lady Allerton; but, as the first was the sister of her new son, and the second the niece of Countess Rotheles, her brother's wife, she was under the necessity of inviting them." Amiable and condescending as Lady Anne chose to appear on this occasion, she had yet great difficulty even