Upon her butler's announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up with a jerk, and raised a hand to her dishevelled cap.
Upon hearing her butler announce Mr. Ravenscar's arrival, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been napping while reading a novel, suddenly straightened up. Caught off guard and realizing her appearance was untidy, she instinctively raised a hand to adjust her messy cap.
This moment captures her surprise and the shift from a relaxed state to a more conscious awareness of her presentation in front of a visitor. It highlights the societal norms of the time, where appearances were significant during social encounters.
