There was an air of extreme vexation in Lady Delacour's countenance as she
pronounced these last words, in which evidently more was meant than met
the ear. Upon many occasions Miss Portman had observed, that Marriott
exercised despotic authority over her mistress; and she had seen, with
surprise, that a lady, who would not yield an iota of power to her
husband, submitted herself to every caprice of the most insolent of
waiting-women. For some time, Belinda imagined that this submission was
merely an air, as she had seen some other fine ladies proud of appearing
to be governed by a favourite maid; but she was soon convinced that
Marriott was no favourite with Lady Delacour; that her ladyship's was not
_proud humility_, but fear. It seemed certain that a woman, extravagantly
fond of her own _will_, would never have given it up without some very
substantial reason. It seemed as if Marriott was in possession of some
secret, which should for ever remain unknown. This idea had occurred to
Miss Portman more than once, but never so forcibly as upon the present
occasion. There had always been some mystery about her ladyship's
toilette: at certain hours doors were bolted, and it was impossible for
any body but Marriott to obtain admission. Miss Portman at first imagined
that Lady Delacour dreaded the discovery of her cosmetic secrets, but her
ladyship's rouge was so glaring, and her pearl powder was so obvious, that
Belinda was convinced there must be some other cause for this toilette
secrecy. There was a little cabinet beyond her bedchamber, which Lady
Delacour called her boudoir, to which there was an entrance by a back
staircase; but no one ever entered there but Marriott. One night, Lady
Delacour, after dancing with great spirit at a ball, at her own house,
fainted suddenly: Miss Portman attended her to her bedchamber, but
Marriott begged that her lady might be left alone with _her_, and she
would by no means suffer Belinda to follow her into the boudoir. All these
things Belinda recollected in the space of a few seconds, as she stood
contemplating Marriott and the dresses. The hurry of getting ready for the