The Three Ages of Woman

The Three Ages of Woman
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
The Three Ages of Woman
the Night Watch
"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so charming! Only think, mamma, how it is improved since I was here last! I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs. Dashwood) but you have made it so charming! Only look, sister, how delightful everything is! How I should like such a house for myself! Should not you, Mr. Palmer?" 　　 Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from the newspaper. 　　 "Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does sometimes. It is so ridiculous!" 　　 This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking with surprise at them both. 　　 Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing their friends, without ceasing till everything was told. Mrs. Palmer laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and everybody agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an agreeable surprise.