Nanta (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. 1881. Excerpt: ... ing and gracious Princess than myself, but still I say I do not like Nanta to sing it' 'Except to yourself, ' the Duchess interrupts him by saying; and shaking her fan at him, she crosses the room to Nanta, to thank her and congratulate her on her success. CHAPTER XVI. In one of the most charming boudoirs in that most impregnable fastness called Belgravia, sat Melaine, Comtesse de Bagnolles, presiding over 'English afltrnoon high tea, ' as she persisted in calling it. She had come to London for the season, and was rather more English than the English in some respects, and, let us add, 'sotto voce, ' un pen, plus mechante, but it was a mechancete that carried with it so much fascination, that one forgave the fault for' the sake of the lovely sinner. Half a dozen other fair women ornamented this exquisite boudoir, their number after a few moments augmented by the entrance of the Duchess of D. 'Chere Duchesse, ' the Comtesse cries in holding up her cheek to be kissed, and then offering the other: which gushing affection was quite reprehensible in the Duchess's eyes. 'I am glad you can spare a moment from Nanta to come to us. I am really quite jealous.' 'My dear Comtesse, it is always a pleasure to come to you, but Nanta is my particular charge, you know.' 'I thought she was Claude's, ' said the Comtesse laughing. 'Claude is the children's guardian, and in dying Marion commended Nanta to his care, ' replied the Duchess seriously. 'How nice it must be to be commended to the care of the handsomest and richest man of one's acquaintance, ' replies the Comtesse. It must be positively delicious to be a widow. I wish I had been born one.' 'It is much better to be a charming countess with a husband, my dear, ' says the Duchess, not at all liking these references to Nanta. 'I...