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262 and he felt the value of his kindness not less than the courtesy evinced by a man of his rank and importance in the court and the House of Lords. After he had expressed this feeling, adding that he wished to see Lady Anne, if she were really at home, Mr. Palmer said, "She is so now we know, and I will step over with you this moment." "And do ask her to dine with us to-morrow, to meet these young friends, who leave town the next morning. We can only offer them a family-dinner, of course; but the business of the House will be soon over, and it may happen that they will like to go to the Opera afterwards. Lady Anne goes often for her own pleasure, and I think she might chaperon these dear girls, who only have been once the whole season." "Thank you, thank you! dear Mrs. Palmer," said Arthur, warmly, "you are still, what Frederic always said you were, the kindest woman in the world." "Well, sit you down, there is no need for you to go with Lord Meersbrook." "I am very glad of it," said the young man, resuming his seat, and looking at Georgiana with eyes that said very plainly, "I had much rather stay with you," and her "eloquent blood" replied, "I am glad of it," though her tongue was more silent than usual.

Mrs. Palmer had already learned from the open-hearted sailor how matters stood with both; but, confident that Lady Anne would never consent to give her daughter to an unprovided or poorly provided