past—it was only natural that a widowed mother should be the sacrifice for her children."
Mr. Palmer had a keen perception of the ludicrous; he was naturally a humourist, which was indicated by a peculiar twinkle of the eye-lid at those times when he determined to repress a hearty cachinnation, and pursue the subject that tickled him to its utmost. That Lady Anne should play tender mother to him he considered the very essence of folly, but he held it to be the perfection of good acting at the same time; and, as his pity for the fair, shadowy thing before him inclined him to "fool her to her bent " as much as his curiosity, he listened to her plans and her reasons, promised the assistance of his lady and servants, but declared positively that, unless something more favourable was ascertained respecting the fate of Lieutenant Hales, neither himself nor any one of his family should enter any "house of feasting," since "that of mourning" would be more congenial to their feelings.
"I set out," he added, "to go with the dear old people to Reading, but left them at Hounslow in consequence of one or other recollecting a certain bin of very, very old hock at Meersbrook, which they think would be of especial service to you, in consequence of which (that no time might be lost) I left them, put myself in an omnibus, and am here at your service."
