Her agitation was unmarked by her mother, who did not even appear to be sensible of her presence; for, with a graceful bend of her head to the company in general, she approached Adelaide, and putting her lips to her forehead, “How do you do, love?  I’m afraid you are very angry with me about that teazing La—–­I can’t conceive where it can be; but here is the third volume, which is much prettier than the second.”

“I certainly shall not read the third volume before the second,” said Adelaide with her usual serenity.

“Then I shall order another copy from town, my love; or I daresay I could tell you the story of the second volume:  it is not at all interesting, I assure you.  Hermilisde, you know—­but I forget where the first volume left off.”—­Then directing her eyes to Mary, who had summoned strength to rise, and was slowly venturing to approach her, she extended a finger towards her.  Mary eagerly seized her mother’s hand, and pressed it with fervour to her lips; then hid her face on her shoulder to conceal the tears that burst from her eyes.

“Absurd, my dear!” said her Ladyship in a peevish tone, as she disengaged herself from her daughter; “you must really get the better of this foolish weakness; these scenes are too much for me.  I was most excessively shocked last night, I assure you, and you ought not to have quitted your room to-day.”

Poor Mary’s tears congealed in her eyes at this tender salutation, and she raised her head, as if to as certain whether it really proceeded from her mother; but instead of the angelic vision she had pictured to herself, she beheld a face which, though once handsome, now conveyed no pleasurable feeling to the heart.

Late hours, bad temper, and rouge had done much to impair Lady Juliana’s beauty.  There still remained enough to dazzle a superficial observer; but not to satisfy the eye used to the expression of all the best affections of the soul.  Mary almost shrank from the peevish inanity portrayed on her mother’s visage, as a glance of the mind contrasted it with the mild eloquence of Mrs. Douglas’s countenance; and, abashed and disappointed, she remained mournfully silent.

“Where is Dr. Redgill?” demanded Lady Juliana of the company in general.

“He has got scent of a turtle at Admiral Yellowchops,” answered Mr. P.

“How vastly provoking,” rejoined her Ladyship, “that he should be out of the way the only time I have wished to see him since he came to the house!”

“Who is this favoured individual whose absence you are so pathetically lamenting, Julia?” asked Lord Courtland, as he indolently sauntered into the room.

“That disagreeable Dr. Redgill.  He has gone somewhere to eat turtle at the very time I wished to consult him about—­”

“The propriety of introducing a new niece to your Lordship,” said Lady Emily, as, with affected solemnity, she introduced Mary to her uncle.  Lady Juliana frowned—­the Earl smiled—­saluted his niece—­hoped she had recovered the fatigue of the journey—­remarked it was very cold; and then turned to a parrot, humming “Pretty Poll, say,” etc.