mised, how could she allow the affair to drop? "Mrs. Herbert," said the General to her, on her leaving the house, "I rely upon your discretion; should Mr. Harcourt think proper to address you, and you judge from his manners and language that he is really what his appearance and what report bespeak him—a perfect gentleman, you have my full consent to give him an invitation to the house. But of this let me caution you, to maintain a strict silence upon the subject to Rosilia."
Why not, thought she, after deliberating, relate the whole conference I have held with Mr. Harcourt, reserving to myself that part only which had relation to my son; and, with respect to the invitation I was desired to give him, it will be easy to let it be supposed I have done so."
Such was the insincerity of Mrs. Herbert, that in telling her tale, all she said appeared so truly plausible, friendly, and cordial to the family interest of the De Brooke's, that she was commended and thanked by them with the utmost complacency and satisfaction, little supposing how greatly they were her dupes. If Mr. Harcourt, thought the unsuspecting General, unites character, that is good morals, to the acquisitions he boasts of, this would be an alliance for my daughter such as the most aspiring parent might wish to promote.
