But this
is a calamity. They come unexpectedly, springing up like
mushrooms, and this one is probably due to the lack of virtue of
the inelegant and unintellectual person who is now speaking."
This she uttered in the presence of the principal beauties of the
Inner Chambers. They sat or reclined about her in attitudes of
perfect loveliness. Two, embroidering silver pheasants, paused
with their needles suspended above the stretched silk, to hear
the August Aunt. One, threading beads of jewel jade, permitted
them to slip from the string and so distended the rose of her
mouth in surprise that the small pearl-shells were visible
within. The Lady Tortoise, caressing a scarlet and azure macaw,
in her agitation so twitched the feathers that the bird,
shrieking, bit her finger. The Lady Golden Bells blushed deeply
at the thought of what was required of them; and the little Lady
Summer Dress, youngest of all the assembled beauties, was so
alarmed at the prospect that she began to sob aloud, until she
met the eye of the August Aunt and abruptly ceased.
"It is not, however, to be supposed," said the August Aunt,
opening her snuff-bottle of painted crystal, "that the minds of
our deplorable and unattractive sex are wholly incapable of
forming opinions.
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