An evening party would be better; though the "dear five hundred friends" could not be found, yet fifty might!—a house still redolent with the eclat of two weddings, one of which had so wealthy a bridegroom, that he made the fortunes of the other, could not fail to be attractive to mothers and daughters, young men who wanted help in new connexions, and middle-aged men rich enough to buy wives of all descriptions. "Yes! the deed must be done. Lady Penrhyn should see that she was not a woman to sit down and weep under the load of disgrace brought upon her house by her own handsome, penniless, brother."
Of course she must see it with her own eyes, for, although each lady felt as if the close union of their families had confirmed for ever the long-increasing contempt, and, in fact, personal dislike, each felt for the other; yet, as they had had no quarrel, and were, as heretofore, dependent on each other for certain good offices neither could forego, it was evident, Lady Penrhyn must be the "bright particular star" of Lady Anne Granard's party. And yet there were so many palpable objections to this, that it appeared pretty nearly worth while to make an open breach, whilst the opportunity was so invitingly accommodating, rather than incur the many evils attendant on her presence. First and foremost, she was beautiful, dressed well, and very expensively, and, from the exercise of her allowed talents, never failed to give the uninitiated an idea that she was the woman of fashion
