Molly, who is dairy-woman at the Brookes', that the Brookes were
mighty set-up with an invitation to drink tea at the Hall. There we
were, Tom Diggles even on the grin (I wonder how long it is since he
was own brother to a scarecrow, only not so decently dressed) and Mrs.
Parsoness of Headleigh,--I forget her name, and it's no matter, for
she's an ill-bred creature, I hope Bessy will behave herself
better--was right-down bursting with laughter, and as near a hee-haw
as ever a donkey was, when what does my lady do? Ay! there's my own
dear Lady Ludlow, God bless her! She takes out her own
pocket-handkerchief, all snowy cambric, and lays it softly down on her
velvet lap, for all the world as if she did it every day of her life,
just like Mrs. Brooke, the baker's wife; and when the one got up to
shake the crumbs into the fire-place, the other did just the same. But
with such a grace! and such a look at us all! Tom Diggles went red
all over; and Mrs. Parsoness of Headleigh scarce spoke for the rest of
the evening; and the tears came into my old silly eyes; and Mr. Gray,
who was before silent and awkward in a way which I tell Bessy she must
cure him of, was made so happy by this pretty action of my lady's,
that he talked away all the rest of the evening, and was the life of
the company.

'Oh, Margaret Dawson! I sometimes wonder if you're the better off for
leaving us. To be sure you're with your brother, and blood is blood.
But when I look at my lady and Mr. Gray, for all they're so different,
I would not change places with any in England.'

Alas! alas! I never saw my dear lady again. She died in eighteen
hundred and fourteen, and Mr. Gray did not long survive her. As I dare
say you know, the Reverend Henry Gregson is now vicar of Hanbury, and his
wife is the daughter of Mr. Gray and Miss Bessy.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY LADY LUDLOW***

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