Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/246

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
240
ROMANCE AND REALITY.

Rosettini why he had not been in attendance during the last fortnight; and knowing how dear fame is to genius, I assured him I had scarcely known Lady Mandeville to be herself. That 'I was too good,' and that 'my perceptions of the beautiful were exquisite,' were his no less flattering rejoinders. He then proceeded to inform me that a porter had first ran against him with a square trunk, and then knocked him down for being in the way. 'You know, milor, your countrymen of the canaille are very independent—of course my face was cut, and even the humblest of Beauty's slaves would not enter her presence disfigured.' There's a professor of pommade divine for you!'"

Emily laughed and said, "indeed, I shall expect to have 'a Cupid ambushed in each curl' under the skilful hands of Signor Julio. I will try his power to-morrow."

Now, it is a very debateable point in my mind, whether any woman ever thanks another for recommending either coiffeur, modiste, or any of those modern artisans of the graces—it is a tacit reflection on her previous appearance. But Emily was far too new to think of that impertinent independence—a taste of her own; she therefore received the advice with juvenile