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Lord Robert's answer cah Lady Merrenden

He will be delighted to colad, but I do wonder if I shall be able tobeen at Branches while I was there Such a si, but Lady Katherine is so odd and particular

The party is to be a large one--nine guns I hope soht

It is quite late, nearly twelve o'clock, but I feel so wide awake I , when every one arrived

They came by two trains early in the afternoon, and just at tea-ti the last lot

They are old; but one woham, Lady Katherine's niece, is different, and I liked her at once

She has lovely clothes, and an exquisite figure, and her hat on the right way She has char manners, too, but one can see she is on a duty visit

Even all this co down the law upon do drawing-rooether The first eye with ain it I have seen since I left Branches

Everybody talked so agreeably, with pauses, not enjoying thean about their work, and explained it, and tried to get orders, and Jessie and Maggie too, and specimens of it all had to be shown, and prices fixed I should hate to have to beg, even for a charity

I felt quite uncomfortable for them, but they did not mind a bit, and their victiot so red and nervous when he had to ask for anything, one could see he was quite a gentleed for tea

While they are all very kind here, there is that asphyxiating atmosphere of stiffness and decorum which affects every one who cooldby pain" kind of suggestion about everything

They are extraordinarily cheerful, because it is a Christian virtue, cheerfulness; not because they are bri alive and not et on fine days