Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/268

266. Every newspaper had told of the sufferings and escape of the Thetis.

The sisters did not learn any thing painfully now respecting their mother; for the execution business was from delicacy perfectly concealed, but Arthur could not forbear giving a sufficient revelation of other matters on the tapis to fill their hearts with the sincerest joy. Often had each calculated on the happiness of offering a home to dear Helen when she should require one, but they could not fail to rejoice that she was likely to be so honourably situated, and blessed by a partner so singularly amiable and worthy. As, in the course of the evening, Penrhyn also arrived, and had volumes to tell the candidate and his lady, of little Frank's perfect health and wonderful accomplishments acquired during their absence, it will be readily believed that few more happy and united parties ever spent a gay evening together. They did not therefore forget that some distant ones there were "who were most dear," for Helen and Georgiana occupied a large space in the minds of the brothers, Louisa and her boy in that of Penrhyn; Frank was the world to his parents, and the Count and Lady Allerton who, with her lord, seemed more