a certain point, satisfactory to the lady; and having lately heard what might be truly called "high words," she had carefully abstained from interrupting them, or allowing Helen to do so, by engaging her assistance in some of the many nothings by which time is run over, or otherwise killed, in great houses. Helen was, as we have seen, very ingenious and industrious, and her noble aunt thought it wrong to suffer her talents to rust, and she had found out a most excellent method of oiling the hinges—to talk about that dear old gentleman, Sir Edward Hales, and his charming grandson, Lord Meersbrook; all they said and did, their love for Georgiana, and her respect for them, &c, was a sure method for getting torn point most admirably darned, new reticules beautifully embroidered, and wax flowers made to rival nature. It could not, however, be said of Helen, "the diligent hand maketh rich," for not even a pair of gloves from the countess's stock ever strayed from her repository to grace poor Helen's hands, though she was perpetually praising their operations, and diligently removing all those pleasant books which might have retarded them.
Lady Anne appeared in a week or two to have greatly recovered her appetite, and she talked much of the benefit derived from her native air, in order to gain which, she constantly drove out in Lord Rotheles's carriages, and appeared to derive comfort
