However, I knew my sister well enough to be aware that to contradict
her was the surest mode of making her resolute, and I thought it
wiser that there should be no appearance of neglect or ingratitude to
rouse her on behalf of the Darpents. So I agreed with Lady Ommaney
that we would seem to take no notice, but only be upon our guard. We
did not propose Annora's accompanying us on our visit of condolence,
but she was prepared when the carriage came round, and we made our
way, falling into a long line of plain but well-appointed equipages
of the ladies of the robe, who were all come on the same errand, and
we were marshalled into the house, and up the stairs by lackeys in
mourning.
At the top of the great staircase, receiving everybody, stood Clement
Darpent, looking rather pale, and his advocate's black dress
decorated with heavy weepers of crape. When he saw us his face
lighted up, and he came down to the landing to meet us, an attention
of course due to our rank; but it was scarcely the honour done to the
family that made his voice so fervent in his exclamation, 'Ah! this
is true goodness,' though it was only addressed to me, and of course
it was my hand that he held as he conducted us upstairs, and to the
great chamber where his mother sat up in her bed, not, as you may
imagine, in the cloud of lace and cambric which had coquettishly
shrouded the widowhood of poor little Madame de Chatillon.
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