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Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915

"Phantom Fortune, a Novel"

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And Lady Kirkbank and the dressmaker would chink their liqueur glasses
in amity before the lady gathered up her satin train and allowed her
peerless shoulders to be muffled in a plush mantle to go down to her
carriage, fortified by that last glass of green chartreuse.
There were always the finest chartreuse and curacoa in a liqueur cabinet
on Lady Kirkbank's dressing-table. The cabinet formed a companion to the
dressing-case, which contained all those creamy and rose-hued cosmetics,
powders, brushes, and medicaments, which were necessary for the
manufacture of Georgie's complexion. The third bottle in the liqueur
case held cognac, and this, as Rilboche the maid knew, was oftenest
replenished. Yet nobody could accuse Lady Kirkbank of intemperate
habits. The liqueur box only supplied the peg that was occasionally
wanted to screw the superior mind to concert pitch.
'One must always be at concert pitch in society, don't you know, my
dear,' said Georgie to her young protegee.
Thus it happened that, Miss Kearney having behaved badly, Lesbia was
carried off to dear old Seraphine, and delivered over to that modern
witch, as a sacrifice tied to the horns of the altar.


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