CHAPTER LVII.
Precisely at ten Sir Edward Hales's carriage drew up at Mr. Palmer's door, and Mrs. P. bustled about to see the necessary wrappings assumed by her aged guests, previous to their leaving her warm drawing-room, the temperature of which had been so agreeable and suitable to Lady Anne, that she determined to remain an hour longer, and Count Riccardini felt himself bound to see her and her daughters safely home; in fact, he was in good spirits, for he felt that he had been with the good, and if they were, to a certain degree, the afflicted, they were not the hopeless and the deserted.
When Mrs. Margaret had made her curtesy to each individual and kissed Georgiana, Sir Edward advanced to Lady Anne, and carefully pulling off his glove (in which there happened to be a little difficulty), tendered his hand. The lady (who had been very charming all the evening) would not be behind in any old-world act of courtesy; she pulled off her glove, placed her hand in that of Sir
