room, accompanied by a young and most gentleman like man.
"I made Charles drive me here to-day," said Lady Penrhyn, "for Penrhyn has taken the carriage into the city to-day, and at this season we have only one pair of horses."
"And what good fortune," cried Lady Anne, looking as pleased as her style permitted her to look about any thing, "has brought you to town?"
"Ill fortune, you mean," replied the other; "why, the elections being safely over last autumn, Penrhyn thinks that country hospitality is unnecessary for two or three years to come. He will keep up his interest in the county by coals and blankets to the poor, which look well in the papers; and, in the mean time, he must make up what he calls his outlay of capital by some speculation. He has come about the company of a railroad."
Lady Anne drew up, and looked unutterable scorn; she did not, however, think it necessary to give utterance to her thoughts in words, for she knew that Lady Penrhyn objected to any one's sneering at her husband but herself. Perhaps the pleasure was so great that she thought it deserved a monopoly. Lady Penrhyn now explained that the object of her visit was to ask Lady Anne if she would accompany her to the theatre. "One must find something in the way of amusement, so I have taken a box at the Olympic, and I rely upon your going with me."
