The honorable Misses Chatterton were both handsome; but the younger was, if possible, a softened picture of her brother.  There was the same retiring bashfulness and the same sweetness of temper as distinguished the baron, and Grace was the peculiar favorite of Emily Moseley.  Nothing of the strained or sentimental nature which so often characterize what is called female friendships, however, had crept into the communications between these young women.  Emily loved her sisters too well to go out of her own family for a repository of her griefs or a partaker in her joys.  Had her life been chequered with such passions, her own sisters were too near her own age to suffer her to think of a confidence in which the holy ties of natural affection did not give a claim to a participation.  Mrs. Wilson had found it necessary to give her charge very different views on many subjects from those which Jane and Clara had been suffered to imbibe of themselves; but in no degree had she impaired the obligations of filial piety or family concord.  Emily was, if anything, more respectful to her parents, more affectionate to her friends, than any of her connexions; for in her the warmth of natural feeling was heightened by an unvarying sense of duty.

In Grace Chatterton she found, in many respects, a temper and taste resembling her own.  She therefore loved her better than others who had equally general claims on her partiality, and as such a friend she now received her with cordial and sincere affection.

Jane, who had not felt satisfied with the ordering of Providence for the disposal of her sympathies, and had long felt a restlessness that prompted her to look abroad for a confiding spirit to whom to communicate her—­secrets she had none that delicacy would suffer her to reveal—­but to communicate her crude opinions and reflections, she had early selected Catherine for this person.  Catherine, however, had not stood the test of trial.  For a short time the love of heraldry kept them together; but Jane, finding her companion’s gusto limited to the charms of the coronet and supporters chiefly, abandoned the attempt in despair, and was actually on the look-out for a new candidate for the vacant station as Colonel Egerton came into the neighborhood.  A really delicate female mind shrinks from the exposure of its love to the other sex, and Jane began to be less anxious to form a connexion which would either violate the sensibility of her nature, or lead to treachery to her friend.

“I regret extremely, Lady Moseley,” said the dowager, as they entered the drawing-room, “that the accident which befel Chatterton should have kept us until it was too late for the ceremony:  we made it a point to hasten with our congratulations, however, as soon as Astley Cooper thought it safe for him to travel.”

“I feel indebted for your kindness,” replied the smiling hostess.  “We are always happy to have our friends around us, and none more than yourself and family.  We were fortunate in finding a friend to supply your son’s place, in order that the young people might go to the altar in a proper manner.  Lady Chatterton, allow me to present our friend, Colonel Egerton”—­adding, in a low tone, and with a little emphasis,—­“heir to Sir Edgar.”