baronet, he determined to send his invitation in good time, and the acceptance gave him sincere delight; he hastened to inform his lady, and entreat her to do all honour to their expected guests, and then walked to wards the entrance of the Castle. Georgiana was returning from her ride, and jumped from her horse just as the carriage door was opened; and Lord Meersbrook sprung out. "What could bring him there? who was in the carriage besides?" were questions that suffused her cheek with crimson, and made her heart beat almost audibly. She stood as well as her trembling limbs permitted, but could neither move nor speak till she had seen the venerable baronet descend with his grandson's assistance, when she began to comprehend that they were visitants to her uncle, with whom she had nothing to do beyond exchanging the usual civilities.
Never had she seen Lord Rotheles so entirely discharge his usual nonchalance so rapidly, and receive his new guests with such graceful and animated welcome. On taking the hand of Lord Meersbrook, he pressed it between both his own, and whilst the tears welled up into his eyes, said, in a voice suppressed by emotion, "you are indeed the son of my early friend. Poor Frederic! he deserved to be the father of such a one."
Georgiana escaped to her own room, desirous of obtaining more composure before she went through the ordeal of presentation to the venerable man who would
