Tuesday 29 December 2009

WoTD: hauteur

Definition:
1: haughty manner, spirit, or bearing; haughtiness; arrogance.

In the balcony seat elevated above the stage, Madeleine arranged herself into the pose of a royal princess, her gloved hands prim atop her skirted knees, her feet smart in spit shiny shoes. Pantomime light gathered on her face, seeking to lighten and engage. It failed. Though only twelve years old, Madeleine's upstart manner, stiffly raised chin and aloof gaze betrayed burgeoning arrogance. The child emulated her mother, a woman with the inbred hauteur of third generation aristrocracy leavened on a shoestring budget. Worse than a true blue blood with wealth to their name, the Carson's affluence bought only so much. It did not buy respect.

1 comment:

Emily said...

Pantomime, upstart, aloof, aristocracy, and affluence all support your use of hauteur. There's a definite aura to this prose, such a powerful image though Madeleine is simply sitting.
Great job!