The Month a Magazine and Review (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869. Excerpt: ... W$t portrait in mp fllincle'g 2Dining;--ttom. CHAPTER IV. A SUITOR UNDER THE OLD REGIME.; Madame De Malpeire was quietly sipping her coffee, and fortunately took upon herself the whole burthen of conversation. 'My dear love, ' she said, glancing over her daughter's dress, ' I don't like you in that cotton gown and those clumsy flat shoes; and why is your hair tied up quite at the back of your head, and without any powder? It is very evident that Mdlle. Boinet has had nothing to do with your toilet. You really look a perfect fright ' 'Do I, mamma?' Mdlle. Malpeire said, as she raised her eyes to the glass in which I had been contemplating for the last quarter of an hour that beautiful fair hair, fastened by a simple tortoise-shell comb, her blooming colour, and the fineness of her slender waist, enclosed in a corsage of blue and white print. Her eyes met mine in the glass.-She instantly turned her head away, with a look not so much of confusion as of annoyance. "' You must excuse my daughter's deshabille Madame dc Malpeire added, addressing herself to me. 'She did not know we should have company this evening, or she would have dressed for supper. I wish she would take more pains about her dress, but I cannot get her to attend to it. She pretends, foolish child, that she cannot walk in high-heeled shoes.' ' ' Mademoiselle may perhaps be right on that point.' I ventured to say. 'It must be very difficult, Madame la Baronne, to keep one's balance with shoes like yours.' 'Oh, not at all, ' she quickly replied; 'I assure you it is all habit. I should not think of taking a step beyond my room with my morocco slippers, and with these little shoes I can walk very well.' She put out at the same time her tiny foot, encased in a shoe of that absurd shape which only a...