The arch-dutchesses, Mary Elizabeth, and Mary Anna Josepha, afterward
queen of Portugal, had frequent balls and entertainments in their
different drawing-rooms; to all which Melanthe, being a stranger and a
woman of quality, was invited: she kept her promise with Louisa; and
treating her as a young lady, whose friendship for her, and a desire of
seeing the world had engaged to accompany her, she was received and
respected as such; and by this means had an opportunity of shewing the
skill she had in dancing, singing, music, and indeed all the
accomplishments that a woman born and educated to the best expectations,
is usually instructed in. As neither her lady nor herself understood the
German language, and she spoke infinitely the best French, her
conversation was the most agreeable, which, joined with a most engaging
manner, and a peculiar sweetness in her voice, attracted all those
civilities which the rank of the other demanded.
Possessed of so many charms, it would have been strange if, in a city
throng'd like Vienna with young noblemen, who were continually coming
from all parts of the empire, she had lived without some who pretended
to somewhat more than mere admiration; but her heart had not refused the
worthy Dorilaus to become the conquest of a German; nor was it here she
was ordained to experience those anxieties in herself, she could but
imperfectly conceive by the description she had from others.
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