not saying such things. But I see I
have forgotten many of my Carlisle habits, and I shall have to pick them
up again by degrees.

When we went up to bed, I found that Grandmamma had asked Annas to stay
in London. Annas replied that her father had given her leave to stay a
month if she wished it and were offered the chance, and she would be
very pleased: but that as Flora was her guest, the invitation would have
to include both. Grandmamma glanced again at Flora, and took another
pinch of snuff.

"I suppose she has some Courtenay blood in her," said she. "And
Drummond is not a bad name--for a Scotswoman. She can stay, if she be
not a Covenanter, and won't want to pray and preach. She must have a
new gown, and then she will do, if she keep her mouth shut. She has a
fine pair of shoulders, if she were only dressed decently."

"I am glad," said I, "for I know what that means. Grandmamma likes
Annas, and will like Flora in time. Don't be any shyer than you can
help, Flora; that will not please her."

"I do not think I am shy," said Flora; "at least, I never felt so
before. But to-night--Cary, I don't know what it looked like! I could
only think of a great spider's web, and we three poor little flies had
to walk straight into it."

"I wonder where Duncan and Angus are to-night," said Annas; "I hope no
one is playing spider there."

Flora sighed, but made no answer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our new gowns had to be made in a great hurry, for Grandmamma had
invited an assembly for the Thursday night, and she wished Flora and me
to be decently dressed, she said. I am sure I don't know how the
mantua-maker managed it, for the cloth was only bought on Monday
morning; I suppose she must have had plenty of apprentices. The gowns
were sacques of cherry damask, with quilted silk petticoats of black
trimmed with silver lace. I find hoops are all the mode again, and very
large indeed--so big that when you enter a door you have to double your
hoop round in front, or lift it on one side out of the way. The cap is
a little scrap of a thing, scarce bigger than a crown-piece, and a
flower or pompoon is stuck at the side; stomachers are worn, and very
full elbow-ruffles; velvet slippers with high heels. Grandmamma put a
little grey powder in my hair, but when Flora said she was sure that her
father would disapprove, she did not urge her to wear it. But she did
want