how
I always prophesied wonderful things for you, just as I did before for
poor Georgina Elderton, and she married a Rajah afterwards, and died
Begum of something ending in 'Bad.' Indeed, I might say it ended in bad
for herself, poor dear, for I believe she was poisoned. But, to come
back, I always said that you also would have astonishing luck. I told
Sir Stafford so. The first day I saw you, 'She 'll be like Georgina,' I
said. 'You 'll see that girl in a wonderful position one of these days.'
It is not that men care for their wives more than formerly, I rather
fancy the reverse, but they have got a most intense passion just now for
beauty. Wealth and good blood were once the only requisites, but they
are both disregarded now, in comparison with good looks. I suppose the
fashion won't last, it would be very absurd if it should, but while it
is the mode one ought to profit by it. Just as I am wearing all those
horrid old brocades of my great-grand-aunt's, with odious flowers of
crimson and yellow, now that the taste in dress is 'rococo,' but of
course in a year or two people will recover their senses again, and
pretty girls without portions be left for sub-alterns in the line, as
Providence intended they should. Don't you think so, dear?"

The brief question at the end of this long rambling speech would
possibly have puzzled Kate to reply to, had not Lady Hester been far too
much occupied in her own speculations to care for a rejoinder.

"You'll hear people talk a deal of nonsense about unequal marriages,
and they'll quote Heaven knows what instances of girls, generally Irish
ones, picking up princes and royal dukes, and all ending unhappily.
Don't believe a word of it, dearest; there 's never misery where there
's large fortune. The people who cry in velvet always shed rose-water
tears, that don't hurt the skin or spoil the complexion. Not that I can
say so of myself," added she, with a deep sigh; "but I am a creature
apart. I fervently trust nature does not often form similar ones.
Buccellini told me that I had a fifth pair of nerves, I assure you he
did. It was a very shocking thing, and probably he ought never to have
mentioned it to me; but it perfectly explains the excessive sensibility
of my whole nature, does n't it, dear?"

Kate smiled assent, and Lady Hester went on:

"Then, as to religion, my dear, I'm afraid, indeed, we all think too
little about it. I 'm sure I 'm quite shocked at what I see in society.