If her friends evince any want of perception in tracing
the many deeds of valour it heralds, on behalf of the noble family
of which she is an undisputed descendant, my lady will at once enter
upon the task of instruction; and with the beautiful fore-finger of
her right hand, always jewelled with great brilliancy, will she
satisfactorily enlighten the stupid on the fame of the ancient
Choicewest family, thereon inscribed. With no ordinary design on the
credulity of her friends, Lady Choicewest has several times strongly
intimated that she was not quite sure that one or two of her
ancestors in the male line of the family were not reigning dukes as
far down as the noble reign of the ignoble Oliver Cromwell! The
question, nevertheless, is whether the honour of the ancient
Choicewest family descended from Mr. or Mrs. Choicewest. The vulgar
mass have been known to say (smilingly) that Lady Choicewest's name
was Brown, the father of which very ancient family sold herrings and
small pigs at a little stand in the market: this, however, was a
very long time ago, and, as my lady is known to be troubled with an
exceedingly crooked memory, persons better acquainted with her are
more ready to accept the oblivious excuse.
Taking all these things into consideration, my Lady Choicewest is
exceedingly cautious lest young Gourdoin Choicewest should do aught
to dishonour the family name; and on this strange perplexity in
which her much indulged son is placed being referred to her, she
gives it as her most decided opinion that the wench, if as obstinate
as described, had better be sold to the highest bidder-the sooner
the better.
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