Oh, Kibble!'
flinging her head upon the girl's buxom arm, and letting it rest there,
'what a happy creature you are--not a care--not a care.'
'I'm sure you can't have any cares, Lady Lesbia,' said Kibble, with an
incredulous smile, trying to smooth the disordered hair, anxious to make
haste with the unfinished toilet, for it was within a few minutes of
eight.
'I am full of care. I am in debt--horribly in debt--getting deeper and
deeper every day--and I am going to sell myself to the only man who can
pay my debts and give me fine houses, and finery like this,' plucking at
the _crepe de chine_ gown, with its flossy fringe, its delicate lace, a
marvel of artistic expenditure; a garment which looked simplicity
itself, and yet was so cleverly contrived as to cost five-and-thirty
guineas. The greatest effects in it required to be studied with a
microscope.
'But surely, dear Lady Lesbia, you won't marry Mr. Smithson, if you
don't love him?'
'Do you suppose love has anything to do with marriages in society?'
'Oh, Lady Lesbia, it would be so unkind to him, so cruel to yourself.
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