so kindly have received her portionless and unknown, and even generously endowed her; and she could so school her heart and command her nerves as to walk into the drawing-room with her usual ease, and receive the compliments of Lord Meersbrook with only the heightened colour natural to an agreeable surprise. When he led her up to the grandsire, of whom Arthur had talked so much, and had written so gratefully, that bloom receded and returned with such quick changes, that even the eye of age detected her confusion; and Sir Edward, rising, took her from Lord Meersbrook, and, with a tenderness beautiful in him, touched the pale cheek with his lips, and brought back not only roses but tears—"sweet, grateful, touching tears," which no one seemed to see, but were felt by every one.
As Sir Edward Hales had some business to transact every morning, and it was understood that he was not equal to large parties, Lord Rotheles busied himself, with Georgiana's assistance, in giving invitation both to near and distant neighbours to come in small parties, on different days, to dinner during the ensuing week; such parties including the young of both sexes, who were likely to render the visit more agreeable to Lord Meersbrook. Several sportsmen were amongst the number; and, as pheasant-shooting had commenced, these made their appearance early in the morning, and, of course, Lord Meersbrook accompanied them; but it was certain, though fond of field
