Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/126

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118
THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE.

ashamed to allude to—their careless manners to their mothers, and their extraordinary self-sufficiency—you would be shocked. That unaffected quiet girl is quite refreshing. I think I shall cultivate the Hopkinsons, Blanche."

In the hall, the Duchess found Janet, who, at the sight of the carriage, became aware of her companion's rank, and rather regretted the bold measure she had taken, in accepting a drive with an unknown friend. She did not know precisely how to address her; had visionary ideas of saying your Grace, which she rejected as plebeian; and then wondered at herself for having sung to a person whose concerts were constantly mentioned as the finest in London. "However," as she told Rose afterwards, "the Duchess was not half so grand as Baroness Sampson, and quite unlike her; and when I have said that, it shews why I found myself talking to her about you, and mamma, and the poor people; just as I should to any of our own friends; and when we reached the hospital, I could not