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certainly arrive shortly； and that travelling on pillions in snowy
weather was unpleasant； though a joseph was a great protection。
Then Nancy was formally introduced to her aunt’s visitors； the
Miss Gunns； as being the daughters of a mother known to their
mother； though now for the first time induced to make a journey
into these parts； and these ladies were so taken by surprise at
finding such a lovely face and figure in an out…of…the…way country
place that they began to feel some curiosity about the dress she
would put on when she took off her joseph。 Miss Nancy； whose
thoughts were always conducted with the propriety and
moderation conspicuous in her manners； remarked to herself that
the Miss Gunns were rather hard…featured than otherwise； and
that such very low dresses as they wore might have been
attributed to vanity if their shoulders had been pretty； but that；
being as they were； it was not reasonable to suppose that they
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showed their necks from a love of display； but rather from some
obligation not inconsistent with sense and modesty。 She felt
convinced； as she opened her box； that this must be her aunt
Osgood’s opinion； for Miss Nancy’s mind resembled her aunt’s to a
degree that everybody said was surprising； considering the
kinship was on Mr。 Osgood’s side； and though you might not have
supposed it from the formality of their greeting； there was a
devoted attachment and mutual admiration between aunt and
niece。 Even Miss Nancy’s refusal of her cousin Gilbert Osgood （on
the ground solely that he was her cousin）； though it had grieved
her aunt greatly； had not in the least cooled the preference which
had determined her to leave Nancy several of her hereditary
ornaments； let Gilbert’s future wife be whom she might。
Three of the ladies quickly retired； but the Miss Gunns were
quite content that Mrs。 Osgood’s inclination to remain with her
niece gave them also a reason for staying to see the rustic beauty’s
toilette。 And it was really a pleasure—from the first opening of the
bandbox； where everything smelt of lavender and rose…leaves； to
the clasping of the small coral necklace that fitted closely round
her little white neck。 Everything belonging to Miss Nancy was of
delicate purity and nattiness： not a crease was where it had no
business to be； not a bit of her linen professed whiteness without
fulfilling its profession； the very pins on her pincushion were stuck
in after a pattern from which she was careful to allow no
aberration； and as for her own person； it gave the same idea of
perfect unvarying neatness as the body of a little bird。 It is true
that her light…brown hair was cropped behind like a boy’s； and was
dressed in front in a number of flat rings； that lay quite away from
her face； but there was no sort of coiffure that could make Miss
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Nancy’s cheek and neck look otherwise than pretty； and when at
last she stood complete in her silvery twilled silk； her lace tucker；
her coral necklace； and coral eardrops； the Miss Gunns could see
nothing to criticise except her hands； which bore the traces of
butter…making； cheese…crushing； and even still coarser work。 But
Miss Nancy was not ashamed of that； for while she was dressing
she narrated to her aunt how she and Priscilla had packed their
boxes yesterday； because this morning was baking morning； and
since they were leaving home； it was desirable to make a good
supply of meat…pies for the kitchen； and as she concluded this
judicious remark； she turned to the Miss Gunns that she might not
commit the rudeness of not including them in the conversation。
The Miss Gunns smiled stiffly； and thought what a pity it was that
these rich country…people； who could afford to buy such good
clothes （really Miss Nancy’s lace and silk were very costly）； should
be brought up in utter ignorance and vulgarity。 She actually said
“mate” for “meat”； “appen” for “perhaps”； and “oss” for “horse”；
which； to young ladies living in good Lytherly society； who
habitually said “‘orse”； even in domestic privacy； and only said
“‘appen” on the right occasions； was necessarily shocking。 Miss
Nancy； indeed； had never been to any school higher than Dame
Tedman’s： her acquaintance with profane literature hardly went
beyond the rhymes she had worked in her large sampler under the
lamb and the shepherdess； and in order to balance an account； she
was obliged to effect her subtraction by removing visible metallic
shillings and sixpences from a visible metallic total。 There is
hardly a servant…maid in these days who is not better informed
than Miss Nancy； yet she had the essential attributes of a lady—
high veracity； delicate honour in her dealings； deference to others；
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and refined personal habits—and lest these should not suffice to
convince grammatical fair ones that her feelings can at all
resemble theirs； I will add that she was slightly proud and
exacting； and as constant in her affection towards a baseless
opinion as towards an erring lover。
The anxiety about sister Priscilla； which had grown rather
active by the time the coral necklace was clasped； was happily
ended by the entrance of that cheerful…looking lady herself； with a
face made blowsy by cold and damp