PARENTS AND OR, INCONSISTENCY AND MISTAKES. A Novel. IN THREE VOLUMES. a re BY MRS. GREEN, WHO IS THE BRIDEGROOM? GRETNA GREEN MARRIAGES; GOOD MEN OF MODERN "Her's was the humbler yet severer fate "Divinely languid now the fair appears, VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. LEADENHALL-STREET. PARENTS AND WIVES. CHAPTER I. Fashion and Feeling. As the beautiful and elegant lady Emily Ardenbrooke was seated at her toilet, admiring the image reflected from her mirror, having just, with the assistance of a soubrette, truly accomplished in her art, put the finishing hand to the adjustment of a most fashionable and becoming morning costume, the footman tapped at the door, and delivered a letter to the abigail, for his lady. "Harrison," exclaimed her ladyship, as I live, here is a letter from my dear cousin, VOL. I. B cousin, lady Laura Carleton! The dear creature has arrived from Paris but a few days ago; oh! I am sure she has sent me an account of all the most prevailing modes in that enchanting capital. Now for it. There, lock the door, and put away all this litter, while I stay and read my letter free from all interruption." Mrs. Harrison gave her lady a very sly, knowing, and somewhat triumphant look; she fancied herself mistress of a new secret, and it must be acknowledged she had kept many for her lady; they were those of indiscretion, certainly, but they had not amounted to any thing faulty; they were as imprudently confided as they were carelessly kept, except when self-interest sealed the lips of the waiting-woman, who now reckoned without her host, for lady Emily at that moment had no secret to disclose, nor any thing that she required silence about from a single individual. The |