Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/188

186 therefore offered no excuse for rummaging the things previous to their removal, was certainly so provoking, that, had any one of her daughters (to say nothing of the two who were the real delinquents) been near, her ladyship's wrath would, undoubtedly, have vented itself in a very unlady-like manner, for anger must be vulgar, unless it is put in fetters of blank verse; no power less than a poet's can restrain the errors of that "unruly member, which no man can tame," and which Lady Anne Granard's daughters knew full well could send forth "bitters as well as sweets, salt water, and fresh." What could she do but write an angry letter, that did not half empty her heart of its overflowing bile, reproaching both Louisa and Helen with unbounded extravagance in making up all their materials for one bazaar, and unparalleled folly on Helen's part for becoming worn out, and, of course, ill-looking; since she had joined the affair, from the first, solely with a view to getting her an offer before she became of age, which was the more necessary, because her younger sister had refused what some people termed a suitable offer; and a still younger was married and a mother. "I also fear," added Lady Anne, "that some improper overture, some absolutely shocking eclaircissement will follow your acceptance of the present you speak of, and which has been so lavishly given, as to derogate from the duchess's stand exceedingly, and will, therefore, mortify her, of course, however, she