Mary took Letty to Mrs. Redmain's room while she put
away her things, and there showed her many splendors, which,
moving no envy in her simple heart, yet made her sad, thinking of
Tom. As she passed to the drawing-room, Sepia looked in, and saw
them together.
But, as the company kept arriving, Letty grew very restless. She
could not talk of anything for two minutes together, but kept
creeping out of the room and half-way down the stair, to look
over the banister-rail, and have a bird's-eye peep of a portion
of the great landing, where indeed she caught many a glimpse of
beauty and state, but never a glimpse of her Tom. Alas! she could
not even imagine herself near him. What she saw made her feel as
if her idol were miles away, and she could never draw nigh him
again. How should the familiar associate of such splendid
creatures care a pin's point for his humdrum wife?
Worn out at last, and thoroughly disappointed, she wanted to go
home. It was then past midnight. Mary went with her, and saw her
safe in bed before she left her.
As she went up to her room on her return, she saw, through the
door by which the gardener entered the conservatory, Sepia
standing there, and Tom, with flushed face, talking to her
eagerly.
Letty cried herself to sleep, and dreamed that Tom had disowned
her before a great company of grand ladies, who mocked her from
their sight.
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