Part 12 (2/2)
”None at all?” repeated Lady Juliana, with surprise ”then, why do you make children's stockings?”
”I make them for those whose parents cannot afford to purchase them.”
”La! what poor wretches they must be, that can't afford to buy stockings,” rejoined Lady Juliana, with a yawn. ”It's monstrous good of you to make them, to be sure; but it must be a shocking bore! and such a trouble!” and another long yawn succeeded.
”Not half such a bore to me as to sit idle,” returned Mrs. Douglas, with a smile, ”nor near so much trouble as you undergo with your favourites.”
Lady Juliana made no reply, but turning from her sister-in-law, soon was, or affected to be, sound a sleep, from which she was only roused by the entrance of the gentlemen. ”A rubber or a reel, my Leddie?” asked the Laird, going up to his daughter-in-law.
”Julia, love,” said her husband, ”my father asks you if you choose cards or dancing.”
”There's n.o.body to dance with,” said she, casting a languid glance around; ”I'll play at cards.”
”Not whist, surely!” said Henry.
”Whist! Oh, heavens, no.”
”Weel, weel, you youngsters will get a roundgame; come, my Leddy Maclaughlan, Grizzy, Mrs. Douglas, hey for the odd trick and the honours!”
”What would your Ladys.h.i.+p choose to play at?' asked Miss Jacky, advancing with a pack of cards in one hand, and a box of counters in the other.
”Oh, anything; I like 100 very well, or quadrille, or--1 really don't care what.”
The Misses, who had gathered round, and were standing gaping in joyful expectation of Pope Joan, or a pool at commerce, here exchanged sorrowful glances.
”I am afraid the young people don't play these games,” replied Miss Jacky; ”but we've counters enough,” shaking her little box, ”for Pope Joan, and we all know that.”
”Pope Joan! I never heard of such a game,” replied Lady Juliana.
”Oh, we can soon learn you,” said Miss Nicky, who having spread the green cloth on the tea-table, now advanced to join the consultation.
”I hate to be taught,” said Lady Juliana, with a yawn; ”besides, I am sure it must be something very stupid.”
”Ask if she plays commerce,” whispered Miss Bella to Miss Baby.
The question was put, but with no better success, and the young ladies'
faces again bespoke their disappointment, which their brother observing, he good-naturedly declared his perfect knowledge of commerce; ”and I must insist upon teaching you, Juliana,” gently dragging her to the table.
”What's the pool to be?” asked one of the young ladies.
”I'm sure I don't know,” said the aunts, looking to each other.
”I suppose we must make it sixpence,” said Miss Jacky, after a whispering consultation with her sister.
”In that case we can afford nothing to the best hand,” observed Miss Nicky.
”And we ought to have five lives and grace,” added one of the nieces.
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