The Sorrows of Gentility (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1856. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... homeliness, and were more to her taste than any rooms she had ever lived in. Over the carved wooden mantel-piece was a picture of Mrs George Anne Bellamy, in the "Grecian Daughter "--and on the walls hung sundry prints illustrating scenes from Clarissa Harlowe and Sir Charles Grandison. There was on one side of the room a large square comfortable sofa, stuffed with feathers, and amply supplied with pillows; but Gertrude belonged to the old-fashioned school, which held that young women ought to sit straight upright upon hard chairs with their feet firmly planted upon the ground in the first position, and allowed of no undignified rest or lounging attitudes, however graceful. A large table, and four heavy high-backed mahogany chairs with broad horse-hair seats, completed the furniture. In her letter to her mother she said all she could think of to re-assure and comfort her as to her prospects. She then dressed Clarissa, and had scarcely concluded when the steps of Sam were heard upon the stairs. He came in mopping his shining head, and somewhat out of breath. "You live pretty high up, miss; but you are a lighter weight than I am. I hope you did not take it ill in regard that I did not come last night. You see there was a meeting of the coach proprietors, and they would have me to attend--it was not over till latish, and we did a deal of talking, so I did not feel rightly in a state to. come to see you." "No, Sam, I did not take it at all amiss, and you see us to much more advantage this morning. But has not all your talking last night made you feel inclined for some tea and toast this morning?" said Gertrude, smiling. "Well, yes, I can't say but what it has," replied Sam, with some consciousness; "you see there was a deal of smoke too, so many pipes going at once-...