Page:Lady Anne Granard 1.pdf/81

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76
LADY ANNE GRANARD.

so sorry for Mr. Glentworth's death! I have heard Fanchette say he was immensely rich."

"Mr. Frank," continued Lady Anne, "has asked himself to dine here to-morrow."

"How very delightful!" cried Isabella.

"How very provoking!" interrupted her mother; "he might just as well have called in the morning."

"I do not think," said Mary, "that Mr. Glentworth will trouble his head much about his dinner; he must have altered very much if he does."

"What a bad habit you have, Mary," cried Lady Anne, "of remembering what happened so long ago! However, perhaps Mr. Glentworth may be flattered by it. But the question now is, what shall we do about dinner? I dare say Mrs. Palmer will lend us things."

The girls all coloured simultaneously, but only Isabella had courage to answer. "Is there any necessity, mamma, for our borrowing any thing?"

"A very great necessity," replied Lady Anne. "Mr. Glenworth used to dine with us at Granard Park, and I have no idea of his looking down upon us now."

"I am sure," cried Isabella, "that he is much too kind to do that; I don't think that he would care how poor we were."

"We owe it," replied Lady Anne, "to ourselves to ‘keep up appearances.' I shall write myself to Mrs. Palmer. Of course, she will be flattered by my asking a favour." The girls looked aghast one at the other

"I am sure," said Isabella, "if I were as rude to