Before Christmas came, however, these painful feelings had been conquered.  Pleasing letters from Miss Harcourt arrived by almost every post for one or other of the inmates of Oakwood, and their contents breathing her own happiness, and the warmest, most affectionate interest in the dear ones she had left, satisfied even Emmeline, from whom a fortnight’s visit from the Earl and Countess of Elmore had banished all remaining trace of sadness.  Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had welcomed but very few resident visitors to Oakwood during the early years of their children, but now it was with pleasure they exercised the hospitality so naturally their own, and received in their own domains the visits of their most intimate friends of London; but these visits afford us no matter of entertainment, nor enter much into the purpose of this history.  A large party was never collected within the walls of Oakwood; the intimate friends of Mr. Hamilton were but few, for it was only those who thought on the essentials of life as himself with whom he mingled in the familiar position of host.  The Marquis of Malvern’s family alone remained to spend Christmas with them, and added much to the enjoyment of that domestic circle.  Their feelings and pursuits were in common, for the Marchioness of Malvern was a mother after Mrs. Hamilton’s own stamp, and her children had benefited by similar principles; the same confidence existed between them.  The Marchioness had contrived to win both the reverence and affection of her large family, though circumstances had prevented her devoting as much of her own time and care on their education as had Mrs. Hamilton.  Her eldest daughter was married; her second, some few years older than Caroline, was then staying with her, and only one of the three who accompanied her to Oakwood was as yet introduced.  Lady Florence was to make her debut the following season, with Emmeline Hamilton; and Lady Emily was still, when at home, under the superintendence of a governess and masters.  Lord Louis, the Marchioness’s youngest child, a fine lad of sixteen, with his tutor, by Mr. Hamilton’s earnest desire, also joined their happy party, and by his light-hearted humour and fun, added not a little to the amusements of the evening.  But it was Lady Gertrude, the eldest of the three sisters then at Oakwood, that Mrs. Hamilton earnestly hoped might take the place Annie Grahame had once occupied in Caroline’s affections.  Hers was a character much resembling her brother’s St. Eval, to whom her features also bore a striking resemblance.  She might, at a first introduction, have been pronounced proud, but, as is often the case, reserve was mistaken for pride.  Yet in her domestic circle she was ever the gayest, and the first to contribute to general amusement.  In childhood she had stood in a degree alone, for her elder sisters were four or five years older than herself, and Florence and Emily four and five years younger.  She had learned from the first