Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/213

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IN HIGH LIFE.
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looking at each other, said: "What shall we do? How shall we manage it?" When they went down to dinner, they both bowed and smiled, which was quite unexpected to the lady. After dinner they went into the parlor, where all the ladies were, congregated, and told them there had been a lady in the house for some time who was very rich, and who visited the first families in the city, and that they must all call on her immediately. There was one lady present whom I had, some weeks before, induced to call on her, as I was at that time combing them both. She seemed amused at the distress of the others. They all called the next day, and continued calling; and at all their social meetings her company was particularly solicited.

Not long after Kossuth left, an English lady arrived at the house. She was a great favorite, not only at the hotel, for she brought recommendations which secured her access to the first families of the city. By some it was doubted whether they were authentic, yet there was a great deal of pains taken in introducing her round until she was found out.

Truly, in her capacity, she was one of the shrewdest and smartest women that ever came to this city. She could not only fascinate women and children, but the most intelligent and the most inferior men. She so fascinated a gentleman boarding in the house, that she was actually engaged to him, and, as he was a man of high standing, through his influence she was received into many families that she could not have visited otherwise, notwithstanding the recommendations she brought with her. After being so pampered, she got beyond her position, like many others I know and have known, who bring false recommendations.

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