less phrases, for which I saw no necessity. She
had one sincere emotion in her life, however; one which she took small
pains to conceal, and this was an infatuation for Danvers Carmichael.

It was he who presented the two young women to each other, and I noted
with pride the bearing of my daughter at this meeting, for she was
genuinely glad to meet Miss Erskine, and with much gentleness and
gravity explained the reasons which had prevented her from coming over
the day before to pay her respects. Isabel, who was not at her ease,
responded that Danvers had told them how busy every one was at Stair,
and that the omission of a visit on Nancy's part was, under the
circumstances, but natural.

That Isabel Erskine did not like Nancy I knew on the instant I saw them
together, and that Nancy was unaware of it, and would have cared
nothing about her dislike had she known of it, was a thing of which I
was equally certain.

The pretty picture of the gaily gowned ladies with their furbelows and
parasols in shifting groups under the beeches, the sunlight falling
through the leaves in broken golden shapes upon the shining silks and
satins of the dresses, the merry chatter of the younger folk and the
more demure coquetry of the older ones, are still a pleasant picture in
my memory of that far-by day.

Upon a demand from some of the guests to see the "lace school," and the
labor teaching as well, Danvers took it on himself to act as conductor
of these merry inquisitive parties, and the wonder and interest of the
ladies in the school was remarkable to see; and I recall now that Mrs.
Opie made her first visit to the burn that afternoon, and within a
month had planned her written work concerning it.

It was nearly four before the Duke of Borthwicke arrived, Hugh Pitcairn
and Sir Patrick Sullivan coming with him, unannounced, through the west
entrance.

His grace looked younger than he did at the time of our last meeting:
but his eyes were the same; misty, unholy, and bland. He wore gray
cloth of the same accented plainness, and from the time of his entrance
stood with his head uncovered in an attitude of great deference to the
women-folk; a bearing which accorded poorly with the tales afloat
concerning the manner of his private life.

To us, who for the most part knew London but by name, the bearing of
this celebrated personage was a matter for interest and study, and if
it were in my power to set him forth as he showed himself to