not uncivil in her reception.  She was doing her best to perform her part of the treaty in reference to Madame Melmotte.  Sophia was walking apart with a certain Mr Whitstable, a young squire in the neighbourhood, who had been asked to Caversham because as Sophia was now reputed to be twenty-eight,—­they who decided the question might have said thirty-one without falsehood.—­ it was considered that Mr Whitstable was good enough, or at least as good as could be expected.  Sophia was handsome, but with a big, cold, unalluring handsomeness, and had not quite succeeded in London.  Georgiana had been more admired, and boasted among her friends of the offers which she had rejected.  Her friends on the other hand were apt to tell of her many failures.  Nevertheless she held her head up, and had not...