ship's goodness towards them, and will consider themselves engaged to you for that day."
With all the warmth of their ages, the sisters then expressed their thanks for the very kind attention of Lady Valpée, who replied, "It is I, my dear girls, who am the obliged party; I shall expect you very early on Thursday morning, and the sooner you come the more agreeable." This point, so interesting to Douglas, and certainly not less so to the sisters, being now decided, the conversation took a general turn, and soon after Lady Valpée, rising to depart, was conducted by the happy Douglas to her carriage.
No one in the neighbourhood had as yet received the slightest intimation relative to the deranged state of affairs then existing at the Villa, or that it was the intention of the General so soon to remove; he therefore felt happy that his daughters, in compliance with the solicitations of Lady Valpée, were to attend the birthday of her son; though for his own part he felt that silence and solitude were best adapted to his present situation. Mrs. De Brooke, more alive to the future peace and welfare of her children than desirous of indulging them in present pleasure, felt a dread lest, in the ardour of their juvenile minds, they should imbibe a fondness for diversions, which to Rosilia had been
