Passing over much of the time as it elapsed at Fairfield Lodge, suffice it to say, that Lady De Brooke, who was of the party, conducted herself to the sisters in a manner the most courteous and amicable. Previous to the death of Sir Aubrey, her Ladyship had suffered from an accumulation of maladies, which, during the past year of her widowhood dejection and sadness had greatly increased. A retirement from the busy scenes of life in consequence had afforded her many profitable moments for reflection, having taught her, in recalling the memory of her husband, to subdue those bitter feelings she had harboured against his progeny; her jealousy, in particular, entertained towards his grand-daughters decreased with the cause exciting it.
Had Sir Aubrey lived, it was his intention to have patronized them; and how better could she honour his memory than by a performance of the acts he meditated, and thus afford herself peace of conscience by redressing the injuries she had done them? With such reflections, desiring to put into immediate practice the good resolutions she had formed, it had been by her express wish the invitation from Mrs. Arden had been given.
As to their father, she could not bring herself to
