The Honorable Lavinia Hardyman was, as all persons in society know,
married rather late in life to General Drumblade. It is saying a great
deal, but it is not saying too much, to describe Mrs. Drumblade as the
most mischievous woman of her age in all England. Scandal was the breath
of her life; to place people in false positions, to divulge secrets
and destroy characters, to undermine friendships, and aggravate
enmities--these were the sources of enjoyment from which this dangerous
woman drew the inexhaustible fund of good spirits that made her a
brilliant light in the social sphere. She was one of the privileged
sinners of modern society. The worst mischief that she could work was
ascribed to her "exuberant vitality." She had that ready familiarity of
manner which is (in _her_ class) so rarely discovered to be insolence in
disguise. Her power of easy self-assertion found people ready to accept
her on her own terms wherever she went. She was one of those big,
overpowering women, with blunt manners, voluble tongues, and goggle
eyes, who carry everything before them. The highest society modestly
considered itself in danger of being dull in the absence of Mrs.
Drumblade. Even Hardyman himself--who saw as little of her as possible,
whose frankly straightforward nature recoiled by instinct from contact
with his sister--could think of no fitter person to make Miss Pink's
reception agreeable to her, while he was devoting his own attentions to
her niece. Mrs.
Pages:
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148