Lady Albinia
Lady Albinia was there to receive the travellers.
She was a short-sighted, vague woman of no particular
beauty, and a total disregard for the
prevailing fashion. A Paisley shawl, which she wore
to protect her from the draughts, was continually
slipping from her shoulders and becoming entangled
in the furniture. When this happened she
immediately summoned up any gentleman who
chanced to be near, and commanded him to disengage
her tiresome fringe. She seemed incapable
of helping herself and when she dropped her fan or
her handkerchief as she frequently did, merely
waited for someone to pick it up for her, breaking
off in the middle of whatever she was saying, and
resuming again the instant her property was restored
to her. She had a habit of uttering her
thoughts aloud, which was disconcerting to those
not much acquainted with her, but which no one
who knew her paid the least attention to.
(ch. xiv)