The Countess of Midlothian was a very little woman, between sixty and seventy years of age, who must have been very pretty in her youth. At present she made no pretension either to youth or beauty,--as some ladies above sixty will still do,--but sat confessedly an old woman in all her external relations. She wore a round bonnet which came much over her face,--being accustomed to continue the use of her bonnet till dinner time when once she had been forced by circumstances to put it on. She wore a short cloak which fitted close to her person, and, though she occupied a great arm-chair, sat perfectly upright, looking at the fire. Very small she was, but she carried in her grey eyes and sharp-cut features a certain look of importance which saved her from being considered as small in importance. Alice, as soon as she saw her, knew that she was a lady over whom no easy victory could be obtained.

The Countess of Midlothian was a very little woman of between sixty and seventy, who must have been very pretty in her youth. She wore a round bonnet and a short cloak, and sat perfectly upright, looking at the fire. Very small she was, but she carried in her grey eyes and sharp-cut features a certain look of importance. Alice at once saw that she was a lady over whom no easy victory could be obtained.
