CHAPTER XIX.
Georgiana and Helen, though by no means troubled with the feverish anxiety, or elated by the far-seeing hopes of their mother, were yet as pleased with the gay doings of the following day as girls generally are. They rose at an early hour, for they knew that the male part of Mr. Palmer's servants were gone forth, long before, to find any thing "green and pretty" wherewith to decorate the rooms; and their own boy was, at the same time, employed in stripping Louisa's garden of its floral treasures. They endeavoured to supply, by the tasteful disposition of that which was obtained, the want of greenhouse plants and costly exotics, and were so successful, that even Lady Anne, "who had seen so much, and understood the matter so well," expressed herself really charmed by the coup d'œil of her drawing-room, and proceeded to give orders for the distribution of lights in the most judicious and liberal manner.
"To want light is to want everything; nothing can be gay or splendid without it; a gloomy room casts a chill on the spirits, and sends people away, by dozens, to find a more inspiring atmosphere; nevertheless,
