Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/3



"Keeping up appearances" had been the business of Lady Anne's existence, not only in the vulgar cares commonly understood by the word, as relates to the debtor and creditor affairs of life, but the more delicate and complicated business which belongs to friendship and connubial happiness. She was fully persuaded that people could not present a respectable front to society, without being connected with high circles of the nobility, wealthy denizens of the circle immediately under them, talented persons who had earned notoriety, and good people of superior moral conduct; and it was now the great object of her life to keep up an appearance of being acquainted with those esteemed by all who were thus distinguished. When she was a married woman, although determined