sures of a trip to Paris; but Georgiana's heart had got a subject for contemplation, which held it far too intensely to admit of pleasurable emotion; and Helen, who was, in truth, in a state of great anxiety on her own account, readily chimed in with her sister's feelings, scarcely sorry to have an excuse to herself for indulging that pensive tone of thought, which every day rendered more decidedly the "temper of her soul."
On their return home, they found that a fashionable friend had looked in, in order to be among the first to congratulate Lady Anne, and informed her of a number of arrivals, owing to the very early meeting of parliament. "Of course," said the lady, "the great body are gentlemen. Members of both houses, and their eldest sons, are up; the ladies will not be here till after Easter; four young peers make their debut next week, I believe; it is quite a stirring time—don't you think Mr. Glentworth will go into Parliament?"
"Of course, when there is a vacancy for a county member; had he been at home, I should have put him in for Lincolnshire the other day."
This was said so coolly, the "I should" was pronounced so quietly, that, although the visitant was by no means new to the world, and knew perfectly well that Lady Anne had no more parliamentary influence than the netting-needle she was playing
