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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
155

you, the best of daughters? But being now in Italy, at the moment——"

"Yes, I see, at the moment you forgot her—one may forget their eldest, especially when they look older than they are," said the duchess considerately (being herself a very fine woman married when very young); "but what have you done with the younger ladies?"

"Georgiana, poor girl, is at Rotheles Castle, with her uncle and aunt, who really cannot bear to part with her, or I should insist on her being with me."

"Oh! let her alone, she consoles them for losing the worthless ci-devant Lady Allerton, who has earned her own lot, and must abide by it."

"My daughter Louisa has lately made me a grandmother, and——"

"Oh! don't fret about that; I am a grandmother—I am delighted, I confess."

"So am I; but my daughter Helen is with Louisa—both are as busy as possible for the charity, and will come down when it takes place."

"Your daughter Louisa. That was the lucky girl who caught handsome Charles Penrhyn, who might have picked and chose among us, I can tell you. Well, I am glad she is coming; she is a fine girl, and will tell now. I wish we could secure his sister, who is precisely the kind of woman for a bazaar; we must have attraction—a well furnished stand is a good thing, but a beautiful and fashionable saleswoman still better."

"Your grace is so far happy, that all the stands