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24 its own peculiar beauty, uniformity; and windows which "the dust of ages" had gathered, and even that only dimly if seen through smoke and fog—those advantages of early rising in London. The sun, the nurserymaids, and children, had all come out before Emily was summoned to the breakfast-table, where a French soubrette—who made, as her nation can do, a pretty face out of nothing, with an apron whose pockets were placed à l'envie, and a cap put on à faire mourir—was pouring out coffee for the very fair, very languid, and very lady-like Lady Alicia, who, enveloped in a large shawl, was almost lost in that and the pillowed arm-chair.

Few women, indeed, think, but most feel; now Lady Alicia did neither: nature had made her weak and indolent, and she had never been placed in circumstances either to create or call forth character. As an infant she had the richest of worked robes, and the finest of lace caps; the nurse was in due time succeeded by the nursery governess, whose situation was soon filled by the most accomplished person the united efforts of fourteen countesses could discover. Pianos, harps, colour-boxes, collars, French, Italian, &c. &c. duly filled the school