CHAPTER VIII. THE “COMING OUT”

Ateighteen,MissMurraywastoemergefromthequietobscurityoftheschoolroomintothefullblazeofthefashionableworld—asmuchofit,atleast,ascouldbehadoutofLondonforherpapacouldnotbepersuadedtoleavehisruralpleasuresandpursuits,evenforafewweeks’residenceintown.Shewastomakeherdéb?tonthethirdofJanuary,atamagnificentball,whichhermammaproposedtogivetoallthenobilityandchoicegentryofO——anditsneighbourhoodfortwentymilesround.Ofcourse,shelookedforwardtoitwiththewildestimpatience,andthemostextravagantanticipationsofdelight. “MissGrey,”saidshe,oneevening,amonthbeforetheall-importantday,asIwasperusingalongandextremelyinterestingletterofmysister’s—whichIhadjustglancedatinthemorningtoseethatitcontainednoverybadnews,andkepttillnow,unablebeforetofindaquietmomentforreadingit,—“MissGrey,doputawaythatdull,stupidletter,andlistentome!I’msuremytalkmustbefarmoreamusingthanthat.” SheseatedherselfonthelowstoolatmyfeetandI,suppressingasighofvexation,begantofolduptheepistle. “Youshouldtellthegoodpeopleathomenottoboreyouwithsuchlongletters,”saidshe“and,aboveall,dobidthemwriteonpropernote-paper,andnotonthosegreatvulgarsheets.Youshouldseethecharminglittlelady-likenotesmammawritestoherfriends.” “Thegoodpeopleathome,”repliedI,“knowverywellthatthelongertheirlettersare,thebetterIlikethem.Ishouldbeverysorrytoreceiveacharminglittlelady-likenotefromanyofthemandIthoughtyouweretoomuchofaladyyourself,MissMurray,totalkaboutthe‘vulgarity’ofwritingonalargesheetofpaper.” “Well,Ionlysaidittoteaseyou.ButnowIwanttotalkabouttheballandtotellyouthatyoupositivelymustputoffyourholidaystillitisover.” “Whyso?—Ishallnotbepresentattheball.” “No,butyouwillseetheroomsdeckedoutbeforeitbegins,andhearthemusic,and,aboveall,seemeinmysplendidnewdress.Ishallbesocharming,you’llbereadytoworshipme—youreallymuststay.” “IshouldliketoseeyouverymuchbutIshallhavemanyopportunitiesofseeingyouequallycharming,ontheoccasionofsomeofthenumberlessballsandpartiesthataretobe,andIcannotdisappointmyfriends