hour afterwards with the delighted sisters, who naturally desired to increase their slight acquaintance with that new relation, who, in holding Louisa's happiness in his keeping, in a great measure held their's also. The conversation which took place now furnished subjects for many days afterwards, to the surprise of Lady Anne, who could not conceive how they could either talk, or think, on any thing but that which had all the charm of novelty to recommend it, and might be the hinge on which it was probable their future fortunes might turn for life.
The day previous to this important affair, as Mrs. Palmer had by this time discovered that her noble neighbour's dwelling was as nearly unfurnished in the materials required for that vulgar, but indispensable, operation connected with supper as could be well imagined, she summoned the young ladies to choose, from an immense accumulation of old and of modern china, those things they considered the most pretty and useful. In this task they were assisted by Mrs. Gooch, who had established herself for the day at her father's, that she might hear "all about things," concluding (very falsely) that Lady Anne's "at home" must be very superior to any thing it had hitherto been her lot to witness. That it would have been so in her husband's lifetime there is no doubt, though that husband's heart had been wrung to the core in witnessing it—under "existing circumstances," to use her own expression, she must do as well as she could.
