Page 103 (1/2)

"My brother knows the whole," he said, "and I do not wish to atte"

"I do not ht

save a shock--appearances--he ht only as kind," answered the colonel, "and I thank

you for it most warmly; but this matter does not depend on my brother's

consent, and even if it did, Ermine's own true position is that which is

said this, he was forced to console Fanny in her shaentle little feratified

her, however, by not interfering with her hospitable instincts of

doing honour to and entertaining his brother, for whose sake her first

approach to a dinner party was given; a very small one, but treated by

her and her household as a far more natural occurrence than was any sort

of entertainment at the Homestead She even looked surprised, in her

quiet way, at Mrs Curtis's proffers of assistance in the et ceteras,

and gratefully answered for Coo herself further Mrs Curtis was less easy in her mind, her

housewifely soul questioned the efficiency of her niece's establishment,

and she was moreover persuaded that Lord Keithhis brother's choice, while even Rachel felt as if the toils

of fate were being drawn round her, and let Grace embellish her for the

dinner party, in an odd sort ofher attelass, chiefly

to judge whether her looks were really as repellently practical and

intellectual as she had been in the habit of supposing The wreath of

white roses, which she wore for the first ti effect, and she was conscious that she had never looked so

well; then was vexed at the solicitude hich her mother looked

her over, and fairly blushed with annoyance at the good lady's evident

satisfaction

But, after all, Rachel, at her best, could not have coure that received thenity to the slender for the delicate fair face; and with a son on each

side, Fanny looked so touchingly proud and well supported, and the boys