Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/154

152 lay hands on an old book, as Lady Sarah did, get Helen (since Mary is not at home) to transcribe it, with new names and places, there is no doubt it would sell, if not to the world yet to the publisher, who could not suspect me of deficient originality. I should not suppose those kind of people would be particular with a woman of rank. I shall send for Helen as soon as I have arranged the matter in my own mind, as to what it shall be. There are more than twenty thousand sold of one missionary book, I see; and I remember being told by those tiresome people, I might get any thing for a reprint of 'Bunyan's Groans from Hell,' with my name and a short preface of recommendation, but it would be both painful and vulgar. Think of a frontispiece with my face opposite such words as those!—the bare idea is horrible! I wish I may not dream of it." Lady Anne closed her long reverie in such horror that she banished the idea of books in toto from her mind, at least until "a more convenient season;" and after reasoning down two tradesmen, paying her landlord in part, and suffering herself most unfortunately to be persuaded into giving bills of short dates to two others, Lady Anne set out in good style to Brighton, with Fanchette by her side and the page behind, comparatively little incommoded by luggage, and so conscious of the pleasures of liberty, that she decided on taking up her abode at the convenient hotel close to Kemp Town, where she could see and be seen by