Page:Ethel Churchill 2.pdf/180

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178
ETHEL CHURCHILL.

principles, which are those of the Walpole party, to be injurious to the rights which, as a free-born Briton, I am bound to maintain. I beg that you will wear coloured ribands to-night!"

"I am not going out," replied Henrietta.

"I insist upon it that you do. The Prince has sent us an invitation, and it was his royal highness who first drew my attention to your incongruous costume, by asking, 'for whom was Lady Marchmont in mourning?'"

"Your will, my lord, shall be obeyed!" replied Henrietta, almost involuntarily mimicking his solemn tone; "but do you know that Prince Frederick makes very strong love to me? Are you jealous?"

"I could not pay myself so bad a compliment," returned her husband, looking towards the mirror: "it is only acknowledging my taste, to admire my wife; but Lady Marchmont can never forget to whom she belongs!"

"It would be very difficult," thought Henrietta; but she kept her thoughts to herself, while his lordship, satisfied with this display