.
Dinner was soon after announced; and tho' with pain I walked into the parlour, supported by the arm of the sweet Lucy, who gaily ordered all the gentlemen to

depart before us, and resolutely refused all their offers of assisting me.
She kindly placed herself next me at table; and Sir Edward, though Lady Elizabeth in a manner invited him to go to the other side by herself, contrived to seat himself on my other hand. This little mortification by no means softened the hauteur of her behaviour to me; on the contrary, from the moment she remarked Sir Edward's assiduities, her countenance betrayed a scornful displeasure, but ill concealed under the mask of neglect and indifference.
As the evening advanced, I grew more engrossed with the expectation of seeing Lady Linrose; and about eight her Ladyship entered the drawing room, accompanied by her eldest daughter.
I easily recollected the face that had been pointed out to me at the Opera. It's expression, however, was much changed. The sour severity of her aspect

had now entirely given place to smiles, good humour, and condescension; and though I could not wholly divert myself of the prejudice of my first prepossession, I had at least the impartiality to condemn myself for it.
I hope you did not wait dinner for me, Lady Mary, cried she, after the first compliments were over, for my good friend was rather indisposed, and so anxious for my stay, that I found it would have been unkind to have refused.
I did not expect your Ladyship, returned Lady Mary, and now that you are returned I ought not to regret your absence, as to that alone I owe the company of another visitor, who has only favoured me with it because my coach was not to be had to carry her home. Pray give me leave, Miss Seymour, added she, to have the pleasure of introducing you to Lady Linrose.
I coloured at the introduction. But

Lady Linrose, with much politeness and no change of countenance, said she should be happy to have the honour of knowing me, and hoped her having the carriage had been no very material inconvenience to me.
Miss Dudley, however, to whom I underwent the same ceremony, only half bowing to my curtsey, stared me in the face with evident curiosity, and a look of supercilious ease which wholly disconcerted me.
She is by no means plain; but a look of conscious superiority renders her features determinedly unpleasing.
My accident, for which Lady Linrose testified much regret and concern, furnished conversation for the first quarter of an hour
