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246. They are few in comparison with the excellent mothers, the affectionate and dutiful wives, the well-educated, unaffected, and fondly-attached daughters who form the great portion of the aristocracy of Great Britain. To the surprise of Lady Anne and Lady Penrhyn, what the latter called the "irruption of the Goths" did not take place till a late hour. This was the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Gooch, and two young gentlemen, respecting whom there had been sufficient of whispers and expectations to render them as much the point of attraction as the handsome bride and bridegroom had already been. These were immediately followed by the Marquess of Wentworthdale, accompanied by the Russian Prince Blackensdorff; so that Lady Anne had, at the moment, her hands quite full, and Lady Penrhyn's eyes were not less busy. She had fully intended to fascinate Lord Meersbrook, but the Russian was six feet two inches high; he wore the full dress of his own court, and several splendid orders; every eye was upon him—unluckily, his eyes soon fixed themselves on Louisa, whom he thought very like his own sister, the reigning beauty of the court at St. Petersburgh. As Louisa had no desire to receive the attentions of the Prince, and Lady Penrhyn was well-practised in the art of inveigling, she would have soon carried her point, if she had not met with one who disputed the prize almost as adroitly as herself; this was Lady