Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/243

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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
241


After a long investigation, it turned out that Georgiana was the only loser; a box, into which Mrs. Palmer (when in her kindness she prepared for the poor girl's hasty departure) had laid the shabby things not proper to be taken, but which in itself was handsome-looking, being the only prize Fanchette had purloined. This being ascertained, Mrs. Palmer eagerly assisted Helen in folding and carrying away the finery which so painfully contrasted with the attenuated form and altered countenance of her who had been the wearer so very lately of these splendid draperies, on each of which she still cast "a longing, lingering look," as it was carried away, and so far as her strength admitted, dwelt on its history and good qualities, thereby enumerating properties in colour and form, and secrets in the art of beauty, of a nature to edify her neighbour, who was absolutely astonished to find that things she had her whole life long never deemed worth her consideration, or supposed that others did, should have employed the mind and occupied the heart of a woman to whom nature had imparted a more than usual capacity and acuteness.

When, to the regret of the patient, but the relief of those around her, the world of frippery had