ing? Were not youthful cheeks made to blush, and roses to bloom in
the spring? Not that mamma ever noted the blushes, but began quite an
artless conversation about this or that, as she sate down brimful of
happiness to her worktable.

And at last there came a letter from Virginia in Madam Esmond's neat,
well-known hand, and over which George trembled and blushed before he
broke the seal. It was in answer to the letter which he had sent home,
respecting his brother's commission and his own attachment to Miss
Lambert. Of his intentions respecting Harry, Madam Esmond fully
approved. As for his marriage, she was not against early marriages. She
would take his picture of Miss Lambert with the allowance that was to be
made for lovers' portraits, and hope, for his sake, that the young lady
was all he described her to be. With money, as Madam Esmond gathered
from her son's letter, she did not appear to be provided at all, which
was a pity, as, though wealthy in land, their family had but little
ready-money. However, by Heaven's blessing, there was plenty at home for
children and children's children, and the wives of her sons should share
all she had. When she heard more at length from Mr. and Mrs. Lambert,
she would reply for her part more fully. She did not pretend to say that
she had not greater hopes for her son, as a gentleman of his name and
prospects might pretend to the hand of the first lady of the land; but
as Heaven had willed that her son's choice should fall upon her old
friend's daughter, she acquiesced, and would welcome George's wife as
her own child. This letter was brought by Mr. Van den Bosch of Albany,
who had lately bought a very large estate in Virginia, and who was bound
for England to put his granddaughter to a boarding-school. She, Madam
Esmond, was not mercenary, nor was it because this young lady was
heiress of a very great fortune that she desired her sons to pay Mr. Van
d. B. every attention. Their properties lay close together, and could
Harry find in the young lady those qualities of person and mind suitable
for a companion for life, at least she would have the satisfaction of
seeing both her children near her in her declining years. Madam Esmond
concluded by sending her affectionate compliments to Mrs. Lambert, from
whom she begged to hear further, and her blessing to the young lady who
was to be her daughter-in-law.

The letter was not cordial, and the writer evidently but half satisfied;
but, s