But we must add, that she did say, by way of attempering her pleasure: "Well! I must say I never saw a finer young man in my life—indeed I don’t know that the court of Great Britain quite boasts his equal. I am sure I forgive him, poor creature, fully and freely, the vexation and uneasiness he has caused me, and I shall always remember him with kindness, and he is the only younger son for whom I ever had such a feeling. I am now very glad I wrote that letter—very glad, indeed; it will have an effect with Lord Meersbrook; indeed there are many more unlikely things than that he should think of Georgiana himself; in my opinion, nothing could be more natural. I will put her in deep mourning; with her complexion she must make quite a sensation, nor can any thing in nature be more interesting than a widow in her minority, and of course she will look like one, and they may call her 'the mourning bride,' with great propriety."
Lady Anne now turned to the theatrical news, little dreaming that the short, hurried knock she had heard, but not attended to, had admitted a visitant to her daughter, Georgiana, who, however contrary to etiquette, was at this moment alone with him in the dining-room. She heard herself inquired for, and instantly obeyed the summons, for the voice was familiar—it was that of Lord Meersbrook.
