Her maid, who was in the room, took this as a
hint to obtain the gratification of her mistress's curiosity as well as
her own, and proceeded accordingly on her voyage of discovery. In a few
minutes she returned, having boarded the Abigail of Mrs McElvina just
as she was coming to an anchor inside the bar; and, having made an
interchange of intelligence, with a rapidity incredible to those who are
not aware of the velocity of communication between this description of
people, re-entered the parlour, to make a report to her commanding
officer, precisely at the same moment that Susan's maid was delivering
her cargo of intelligence to her own mistress.

"They are a new-married couple, ma'am, and their name is McElvina," said
the one.

"The lady is a Mrs Rainscourt, and the young lady is her daughter, and
a great heiress," whispered the other.

"They have purchased the hunting box close to the --- Hall, and are
going there now," said the first.

"They live at the great park, close to where you are going, ma'am," said
the second.

"The old gentleman's name is Hornblow. He is the lady's father, and as
rich as a Jew, they say," continued Mrs Rainscourt's maid.

"Mrs Rainscourt don't live with her husband, ma'am; by all accounts
he's a bad 'un," continued the Abigail of Susan.

The publicity of the staircase of an hotel is very convenient for making
an acquaintance; and it happened that, just after these communications
had been made, Emily was ascending the stairs as Mrs McElvina was going
down to join her husband and father at the dinner table. The smiling
face and beaming eyes of Emily, who evidently lingered to be spoken to,
were so engaging that she soon found her way into the room which the
McElvinas were occupying.

Mrs Rainscourt was not sorry to find that she was to have for
neighbours a couple whose appearance had so prepossessed her in their
favour. As she expected that her society would be rather confined, she
did not suffer to escape the favourable opportunity which presented
itself of making their acquaintance. As they were returning to their
vehicles, Emily ran to Mrs McElvina to wish her good-bye, and Mrs
Rainscourt expressed her thanks for the notice they had taken of her
daughter. A few minutes' conversation ended in "hoping to have the
pleasure of making their acquaintance as soon as they were settled."

The carriages drove off; and we shall follow that of the McElvinas,
which arrived at its d