At this moment there was a movement towards the instrument, Mrs. Penrhyn and Mrs. Gooch being about to sing,and, of course, the father could not forbear pressing towards his daughter, who was well dressed, radiant with smiles, and capable of performing her task to the satisfaction of "ears polite." Short as the conversation had been between the marquis and Mr. Palmer, it had important consequences. It implanted a dagger in the heart of one nobleman, who was a hearer by mere chance, and awoke a tender desire in the breast of another, after so long a period of old bachelorship, that mothers of every description had given him up some time ago. Little thought the good-natured vindicator of Lady Anne's offspring (to all of whom he was sincerely attached) that he had drawn upon one that which she held to be the great misfortune of her life a short time afterwards.
Poor Georgiana had heard, with great interest, the remarks of the marquis on the interesting brothers, more especially what was said of Arthur; and the pleasant smile which lighted up her countenance at the moment when he inquired "who was she?" was imputed to her admiration of his eloquence, when he found that "such things were," as young ladies feeling a preference, nay, as it appeared, a passion, for men twenty years older than themselves. There was no mistrusting Mr. Palmer; his countenance was a book, in which honesty of purpose and soundness of under standing were legibly written.
