DearlyshouldIliketoknowwhowasthegiverofthisdaintyworkofart，whichwassuchafavoritewithher。HowoftenhaveIseentheoldlady，herfeetuponthebar，recliningintheeasy-chair，withherdresshalfraisedinfront，toyingwiththesnuff-box，whichlayupontheledgebetweenherboxofpastillesandhersilkmits。Whatacoquetteshewas!tothedayofherdeathshetookasmuchpainswithherappearanceasthoughthebeautifulportraithadbeenpaintedonlyyesterday，andshewerewaitingtoreceivethethrongofexquisitesfromtheCourt!Howthearmchairrecallstometheinimitablesweepofherskirtsasshesankbackinit!
Thesewomenofapastgenerationhavecarriedoffwiththemsecretswhichareverytypicaloftheirage。ThePrincesshadacertainturnofthehead，awayofdroppingherglanceandherremarks，achoiceofwords，whichIlookforinvain，eveninmymother。Therewassubtletyinitall，andtherewasgood-nature；thepointsweremadewithoutanyaffectation。Hertalkwasatoncelengthyandconcise；shetoldagoodstory，andcouldputhermeaninginthreewords。Aboveall，shewasextremelyfree-thinking，andthishasundoubtedlyhaditseffectonmywayoflookingatthings。
FromsevenyearsoldtillIwasten，Ineverleftherside；itpleasedhertoattractmeasmuchasitpleasedmetogo。Thispreferencewasthecauseofmorethanonepassageatarmsbetweenherandmymother，andnothingintensifiesfeelingliketheicybreathofpersecution。
Howcharmingwashergreeting，“Hereyouare，littlerogue!“whencuriosityhadtaughtmehowtoglidewithstealthysnake-likemovementstoherroom。ShefeltthatIlovedher，andthischildishaffectionwaswelcomeasarayofsunshineinthewinterofherlife。
Idon’tknowwhatwentoninherroomsatnight，butshehadmanyvisitors；andwhenIcameontiptoeinthemorningtoseeifshewereawake，Iwouldfindthedrawing-roomfurnituredisarranged，thecard-