"If you do not wish an old woman to go out at this hour of the night, let
William, at least, go and fetch his cousin," said the Baroness.

"The very thing I proposed to him."

"And so did we--and so did we!" cried the daughters in a breath.

"I am sure, I only wanted the dear Baroness's consent!" said their
mother, "and shall be charmed for my part to welcome our young relative."

"Will! Put on thy pattens and get a lantern, and go fetch the Virginian,"
said my lord.

"And we will have another bowl of punch when he comes," says William, who
by this time had already had too much. And he went forth--how we have
seen; and how he had more punch; and how ill he succeeded in his embassy.

The worthy lady of Castlewood, as she caught sight of young Harry
Warrington by the river-side, must have seen a very handsome and
interesting youth, and very likely had reasons of her own for not
desiring his presence in her family. All mothers are not eager to
encourage the visits of interesting youths of nineteen in families where
there are virgins of twenty. If Harry's acres had been in Norfolk or
Devon, in place of Virginia, no doubt the good Countess would have been
rather more eager in her welcome. Had she wanted him she would have given
him her hand readily enough. If our people of ton are selfish, at any
rate they show they are selfish; and, being cold-hearted, at least have
no hypocrisy of affection.