notonly
tea
was
waiting
,
but
the
celebrated
family
tree
,
which
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
anxiety
and
Ellen
's
sorrow
had
caused
them
both
to
forget
,
was
displayed
with
even
more
than
usual
taste
and
beauty
.
Mr.
Hamilton
,
when
young
,
had
been
a
great
deal
with
his
father
in
Germany
,
Denmark
,
and
Sweden
,
and
brought
from
the
first
and
latter
country
certain
domestic
observances
which
had
especially
pleased
him
,
as
so
greatly
enhancing
the
enjoyments
of
home
,
and
helping
to
a
right
understanding
between
parents
and
children
,
by
increasing
their
mutual
love
and
confidence
.
The
family
tree
,
or
Christmas
Tree
,
as
it
was
called
,
was
one
of
these
,
and
from
their
earliest
years
it
had
been
one
of
the
children
's
greatest
delights
on
New
Year
's
Eve
.
Of
course
,
as
they
grew
older
,
and
their
taste
improved
,
the
tree
itself
,
its
suspended
presents
,
and
its
surrounding
decorations
increased
in
beauty
,
and
it
had
never
been
prettier
than
it
was
this
year
.
The
whole
of
the
preceding
afternoon
had
the
young
artists
labored
in
preparing
it
,
for
of
course
,
as
the
next
day
was
Sunday
,
it
was
obliged
to
be
all
finished
by
the
Saturday
night
;
the
servants
,
eager
in
all
things
to
enhance
the
happiness
of
those
whose
parents
made
them
so
happy
,
did
not
care
what
trouble
they
took
to
help
them
.
They
always
selected
the
room
in
which
there
was
a
very
lofty
and
very
deep
oriel
window
,
in
the
center
of
which
recess
(
which
was
almost
as
large
as
a
moderately
sized
room
)
they
placed
the
tree
,
which
was
a
very
large
,
gracefully-cut
spruce
fir
;
it
was
placed
in
a
tub
filled
with
the
same
soil
as
that
in
which
the
tree
grew
,
so
that
by
watering
and
care
it
remained
fresh
for
some
time
.
The
tub
which
contained
it
,
was
completely
hidden
by
the
flowering
shrubs
that
were
placed
round
it
,
rising
in
an
expanding
pyramid
,
by
means
of
several
flower-stands
,
till
the
recess
seemed
one
mass
of
leaf
and
flower
;
among
which
the
superb
scarlet
geranium
,
that
in
Devonshire
grows
so
luxuriantly
all
through
the
winter
,
shining
against
its
own
beautiful
leaf
,
the
brilliant
berries
of
the
holly
,
with
their
dark
glistening
branches
,
the
snow-berry
and
flowering
myrtle
,
shone
pre-eminent
.
Small
lamps
glittered
through
the
flowers
,
and
were
suspended
in
sufficient
profusion
from
the
pendent
branches
of
the
tree
to
half
reveal
and
half
hide
the
various
gifts
and
treasures
that
were
there
deposited
;
and
altogether
the
effect
,
from
every
part
of
the
room
,
was
really
striking
.
The
tree
always
remained
till
after
their
ball
,
but
,
the
interchange
of
gifts
which
took
place
on
New
Year
's
Eve
,
causing
so
many
peculiarly
happy
and
home
feelings
,
was
confined
to
the
family
group
;
Mr.
Howard
always
included
.
Many
weeks
before
had
each
individual
worked
at
his
own
secret
undertaking
.
If
it
could
not
all
be
done
in
private
,
no
questions
were
ever
asked
,
and
each
helped
the
other
to
keep
it
at
least
from
their
parents
till
the
eventful
night
itself
.
They
formed
so
large
a
party
altogether
,
as
little
tokens
of
affection
between
the
brothers
and
sisters
were
also
exchanged
,
that
the
tree
was
quite
loaded
,
and
many
a
time
had
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
discovered
some
trait
of
character
or
some
ruling
fancy
,
even
in
such
a
simple
thing
as
the
manufacture
and
presentation
of
home
gifts
.
Their
own
idea
of
family
ties
was
so
strong
and
so
holy
,
that
one
great
aim
in
the
education
of
their
children
was
to
make
them
not
only
love
each
other
,
but
have
thought
and
attention
for
individual
feelings
and
wishes
,
and
so
heighten
feeling
by
action
,
not
depend
entirely
on
natural
ties
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
known
many
young
persons
who
were
lavish
in
attentions
and
even
presents
to
friends
,
but
never
imagined
that
their
own
home
circle
had
the
first
and
strongest
claim
to
kindness
,
whether
of
word
or
deed
.
She
knew
that
affections
and
thought
lavished
on
comparative
strangers
never
radiated
on
home
,
but
that
when
given
to
home
first
,
they
shed
light
and
kindliness
far
and
near
.
Their
tea
was
indeed
a
mirthful
one
;
Ellen
had
been
very
fearful
of
meeting
Mr.
Howard
,
for
she
thought
he
must
have
been
told
how
naughty
she
had
been
;
but
if
he
had
,
there
was
nothing
in
his
manner
to
say
so
;
for
he
shook
hands
with
her
,
and
even
kissed
her
most
kindly
,
and
told
her
,
laughingly
,
that
she
must
be
quite
well
by
the
next
night
,
or
how
was
she
to
dance
?
That
he
thought
it
would
be
a
good
thing
if
Emmeline
could
give
her
a
little
of
her
dancing
mania
,
as
she
hardly
ever
only
walked
,
even
when
she
called
herself
quite
sober
.
Edward
,
every
passing
thought
of
self-reproach
banished
by
his
sister
's
return
to
favor
,
was
in
the
wildest
spirits
;
Percy
and
Emmeline
seemed
to
have
laid
a
wager
who
could
say
the
wittiest
things
and
laugh
the
most
.
Herbert
was
very
quiet
,
but
looking
as
happy
as
the
rest
,
and
quite
entering
into
their
mirth
,
and
showing
all
sorts
of
little
gentle
attentions
to
Ellen
,
who
had
seemed
to
shrink
from
his
eye
,
more
than
from
all
the
others
.
Caroline
fully
entered
into
the
spirit
of
the
evening
,
but
neither
she
nor
Miss
Harcourt
took
the
same
notice
of
Ellen
as
the
rest
.
The
person
who
was
to
act
the
Wizard
's
part
,
and
by
means
of
a
long
wand
detach
the
various
treasures
from
the
tree
,
and
carry
them
to
the
owners
whose
names
they
bore
,
was
always
chosen
by
lot
;
and
great
was
the
delight
of
the
young
party
,
when
this
night
the
office
fell
on
Mr.
Howard
.
No
one
seemed
more
pleased
than
himself
,
performing
it
with
such
a
spirit
of
enjoyment
and
originality
,
that
a
general
vote
declared
him
the
very
choicest
wizard
they
had
ever
had
.
To
enumerate
all
the
contents
of
that
marvelous
tree
would
be
impossible
.
Their
parents
'
gifts
to
each
of
them
were
not
in
the
tree
,
but
always
given
afterward
;
but
great
was
the
delight
,
when
,
after
a
terrible
tussle
to
detach
a
large
roll
of
cloth
,
down
it
came
,
right
on
Mr.
Howard
's
head
,
and
almost
enveloped
him
with
its
folds
,
and
proved
to
be
a
beautiful
cover
,
which
he
had
long
desired
for
a
favorite
table
in
his
drawing-room
at
the
embroidered
border
of
which
,
not
only
the
three
girls
,
but
Mrs.
Hamilton
and
Miss
Harcourt
had
all
worked
,
as
a
joint
offering
of
love
and
respect
.
This
good
man
was
so
charmed
,
that
he
declared
he
would
not
use
his
wand
again
till
he
had
full
five
minutes
to
admire
it
.
Then
there
was
a
very
pretty
,
comfortable
pair
of
slippers
,
worked
by
Caroline
and
Emmeline
for
their
father
,
and
a
pair
of
braces
worked
by
Ellen
,
all
accompanied
by
some
most
ludicrous
,
but
very
clever
verses
from
Percy
.
Edward
,
who
was
very
ingenious
,
had
turned
a
very
pretty
stand
for
his
uncle
to
put
his
watch
in
at
night
;
and
manufactured
two
little
vessels
out
of
cork
for
his
aunt
,
so
delicately
,
and
neatly
,
that
she
promised
him
they
should
stand
on
the
mantelpiece
of
her
dressing-room
,
as
long
as
they
would
last
.
Caroline
had
knitted
her
mother
a
very
pretty
bag
,
and
Emmeline
and
Ellen
had
collected
for
her
a
variety
of
leaves
throughout
the
year
,
and
arranged
them
with
great
taste
,
both
as
to
grouping
and
tinting
,
in
a
sort
of
small
herbal
,
with
two
or
three
lines
of
poetry
,
selected
and
carefully
written
by
each
alternately
,
attached
to
each
page
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
excessively
pleased
,
as
she
was
also
with
a
portfolio
formed
by
drawings
from
both
her
boys
,
and
tastefully
made
up
by
Miss
Harcourt
;
and
with
their
gifts
to
their
father
,
a
correct
and
most
beautifully
written
out
Greek
poem
,
which
Mr.
Hamilton
had
several
months
,
if
not
more
than
a
year
before
,
expressed
a
wish
to
possess
,
but
the
volume
which
contained
it
was
so
scarce
,
and
so
expensive
from
the
quantity
of
uninteresting
matter
in
which
the
gem
was
buried
,
that
he
had
given
up
all
thought
of
it
.
Herbert
,
however
,
had
not
,
and
never
rested
from
the
time
his
father
spoke
,
till
he
had
found
and
copied
it
—
a
task
of
no
small
difficulty
,
for
the
original
was
in
many
parts
almost
entirely
effaced
,
and
,
if
Herbert
had
not
been
an
admirable
Greek
scholar
,
and
a
quick
imaginator
as
to
what
it
ought
to
be
,
Mr.
Howard
himself
had
said
he
could
not
have
succeeded
.
The
writing
of
the
Greek
character
was
most
beautiful
,
and
Percy
,
in
imitation
of
the
ancient
missals
,
had
designed
and
painted
an
elegant
illuminated
border
round
it
,
and
a
beautiful
cover
,
forming
a
thin
volume
,
so
valuable
,
their
father
delighted
them
by
saying
,
that
he
would
not
exchange
it
for
twenty
of
the
most
precious
volumes
in
his
library
.
Such
evidences
of
the
home
influence
they
had
given
,
in
permitting
leisure
for
the
cultivation
of
taste
and
imagination
,
teaching
them
the
beautiful
,
and
opening
innumerable
resources
of
enjoyment
within
themselves
,
and
thence
allowing
them
to
enhance
the
pleasures
of
others
,
were
indeed
most
gratifying
to
those
earnest
and
affectionate
guardians
.
From
their
earliest
years
they
had
been
taught
,
that
to
give
the
greatest
amount
of
pleasure
to
their
parents
,
their
gifts
must
be
all
,
or
at
least
have
something
in
them
,
of
their
own
workmanship
,
and
to
enable
them
to
do
this
,
the
lads
had
been
taught
in
their
hours
of
recreation
to
use
all
sorts
of
tools
,
visiting
and
knowing
something
of
a
variety
of
handicrafts
;
and
the
girls
to
work
and
draw
,
and
even
bring
the
stores
of
Nature
to
their
aid
when
needed
,
as
in
the
present
case
,
with
Emmeline
and
Ellen
's
tasteful
gift
.
Our
young
readers
must
call
upon
their
own
imagination
as
to
the
other
treasures
of
this
valuable
tree
;
for
,
as
they
would
,
no
doubt
,
like
to
know
what
sort
of
New
Year
's
gifts
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
in
store
for
their
children
(
for
Miss
Harcourt
too
,
for
they
never
omitted
her
)
,
we
really
must
not
linger
round
it
any
longer
.
Poor
Ellen
,
indeed
,
had
the
pain
of
feeling
that
her
fault
and
its
consequences
had
prevented
the
completion
of
her
purse
for
Percy
,
and
a
chain
for
Edward
,
and
her
cheek
burned
very
painfully
,
when
Mr.
Howard
,
after
exhausting
the
tree
,
exclaimed
—
"
Nothing
from
Ellen
for
Percy
and
Edward
.
Young
gentlemen
,
have
you
been
receiving
any
gifts
in
secret
?
—
out
with
them
if
you
have
—
it
is
against
all
law
and
propriety
.
"
"
We
shall
receive
them
next
week
,
most
potent
conjuror
,
as
you
ought
to
have
known
without
inquiring
,
"
answered
Percy
,
directly
;
and
bending
over
Ellen
,
by
whom
he
chanced
to
be
standing
,
he
said
,
kindly
,
"
Never
mind
,
Nelly
,
you
will
have
time
to
finish
them
both
next
week
.
"
"
Do
not
say
'
never
mind
,
'
my
dear
boy
,
though
I
admire
and
sympathize
in
your
kind
care
of
your
cousin
's
feelings
,
"
said
his
mother
,
in
the
same
low
tone
,
as
only
to
be
heard
by
him
and
Ellen
.
(
Mr.
Howard
was
very
quick-sighted
,
and
he
took
Percy
's
jest
and
turned
off
all
farther
notice
of
his
words
.
)
"
Even
such
a
little
thing
as
this
in
Ellen
's
case
is
pain
,
and
can
only
be
felt
as
such
;
we
do
not
lessen
it
by
denying
it
,
my
Ellen
,
do
we
?
"
"
I
would
rather
feel
it
,
if
it
would
help
me
to
remember
,
"
was
Ellen
's
earnest
and
humble
reply
;
adding
,
"
but
I
thank
you
,
dear
Percy
—
you
are
so
kind
.
"
"
Not
a
bit
,
"
was
his
laughing
answer
.
"
Why
,
what
in
the
world
is
this
?
"
he
added
;
"
I
thought
the
tree
was
exhausted
.
"
"
So
it
is
,
but
this
was
hid
at
its
root
,
"
replied
Mr.
Howard
,
"
and
though
it
is
directed
to
Caroline
,
it
is
somewhat
too
heavy
for
my
wand
,
and
must
reach
her
in
a
more
natural
way
.
"
"
Why
,
it
is
my
flower
,
my
own
beautiful
flower
,
or
one
exactly
like
it
,
at
least
,
"
exclaimed
Caroline
,
joyfully
,
as
,
removing
a
hollow
pyramid
of
green
and
white
paper
,
a
myrtle
was
discovered
of
the
same
rare
kind
,
and
almost
in
as
beautiful
flower
as
the
one
whose
death
had
caused
such
increased
coldness
in
her
feelings
toward
Ellen
.
"
How
did
it
come
?
who
could
have
procured
it
for
me
?
"
"
Ellis
sent
for
it
at
my
request
,
dear
Caroline
,
"
answered
Ellen
.
"
She
said
they
were
to
be
purchased
from
the
gardener
at
Powderham
,
and
if
it
were
possible
to
send
any
one
so
far
,
she
would
endeavor
to
get
one
for
me
;
she
told
me
yesterday
she
had
succeeded
,
and
I
thought
she
gave
it
you
,
as
I
begged
her
,
directly
;
I
had
no
opportunity
to
tell
you
before
,
but
I
was
so
very
,
very
sorry
I
had
hurt
your
flower
.
"
"
Ellis
was
very
wise
to
put
it
among
the
pretty
things
of
this
evening
,
instead
of
obeying
you
,
"
said
her
uncle
,
kindly
;
"
and
I
really
am
glad
that
your
great
desire
to
replace
it
made
her
think
of
sending
for
it
,
for
though
I
meant
to
have
given
Caroline
another
,
I
had
so
many
things
on
my
mind
this
week
that
it
escaped
me
;
and
I
know
they
are
so
much
sought
for
,
Wilson
has
scarcely
ever
one
on
hand
.
"
"
Indeed
,
papa
,
you
were
much
too
kind
to
think
about
it
at
all
,
"
said
Caroline
,
very
earnestly
.
"
I
am
afraid
,
if
you
knew
how
very
cross
and
unkind
the
loss
of
the
other
made
me
,
you
would
have
withdrawn
your
idea
of
such
indulgence
.
I
am
very
much
obliged
to
you
,
Ellen
,
"
she
continued
much
more
cordially
than
she
had
yet
spoken
to
her
cousin
;
"
I
did
not
deserve
it
even
from
you
,
for
I
worked
myself
into
such
an
ill-temper
,
as
almost
to
believe
you
did
it
purposely
,
and
I
had
no
right
to
think
that
.
"
It
did
indeed
bear
out
its
language
,
that
pretty
flower
,
for
,
with
this
one
coldness
removed
—
though
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
trembling
heart
dared
not
hope
it
would
be
lasting
—
love
now
reigned
pre-eminent
.
Every
happy
feeling
increased
when
in
the
presents
from
their
parents
each
recognized
something
that
had
been
wished
for
,
though
they
never
remembered
expressing
it
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
were
always
united
in
these
New
Year
's
gifts
,
though
tokens
of
approval
or
occasional
indulgences
were
often
given
separately
.
There
were
a
set
of
most
beautiful
engravings
for
Percy
,
which
for
the
last
three
or
four
months
he
had
been
most
anxious
to
possess
;
but
with
the
recollection
of
former
folly
very
fresh
in
his
memory
,
he
had
actually
succeeded
in
driving
them
from
his
mind
,
and
gave
them
up
as
unattainable
,
till
he
was
richer
,
at
least
.
For
Herbert
there
was
a
fine
edition
of
the
Greek
tragedians
in
their
original
,
as
beautiful
a
work
of
art
,
in
its
"
getting
up
,
"
as
Percy
called
it
,
as
its
letter-press
,
which
to
Herbert
was
beyond
all
price
.
Edward
was
almost
wild
,
as
his
uncle
and
aunt
telling
him
he
was
fourteen
next
March
,
and
might
not
be
with
them
next
New
Year
's
eve
,
presented
him
with
a
treasure
coveted
beyond
all
other
,
a
gold
watch
.
(
His
father
's
had
been
given
by
his
mother
as
a
parting
gift
to
Captain
Cameron
.
)
Mr.
Howard
declared
that
it
was
much
too
good
for
a
sailor
,
and
would
be
lost
his
first
voyage
;
he
had
much
better
hand
it
over
to
the
Rectory
,
promising
to
take
every
care
of
it
;
but
looking
so
mischievous
,
Edward
vowed
it
should
not
get
near
his
hand
.
For
Caroline
was
a
most
complete
and
elegantly
fitted-up
embroidery-box
,
which
quite
charmed
her
,
for
it
was
exactly
like
,
if
not
more
tasteful
and
complete
,
than
one
Annie
Grahame
had
brought
from
London
,
and
which
she
had
wondered
,
Caroline
could
"
exist
"
without
.
As
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
found
that
she
could
not
only
comfortably
"
exist
,
"
but
much
as
she
admired
and
had
at
first
so
coveted
it
,
as
to
have
a
hard
battle
with
discontent
,
she
had
never
even
hinted
that
it
might
be
useful
.
As
they
perceived
that
her
mind
was
so
happily
engrossed
by
the
idea
of
the
pleasure
her
gifts
would
bestow
,
as
not
to
cast
a
thought
upon
Annie
's
superior
box
,
they
indulged
themselves
and
their
child
,
and
were
more
than
repaid
by
the
beaming
look
of
delight
with
which
it
was
received
.
For
Emmeline
was
a
parcel
almost
as
large
as
herself
,
Percy
declared
.
"
A
drawing-box
all
to
yourself
,
Tiny
!
Thank
goodness
!
My
chalks
and
pencils
have
some
chance
of
being
let
alone
;
I
really
ought
to
thank
mamma
and
papa
quite
as
much
,
if
not
more
,
than
you
,
considering
that
in
giving
you
a
new
possession
they
have
preserved
me
an
old
one
,
which
I
began
to
suspect
would
desert
me
piece
by
piece
.
What
,
more
?
"
he
continued
,
laughing
at
his
sister
's
almost
scream
of
delight
,
as
she
undid
the
covering
of
a
book
,
and
found
it
to
be
the
complete
poem
of
the
"
Lady
of
the
Lake
,
"
extracts
of
which
she
had
read
in
the
reviews
,
and
so
reveled
in
them
,
child
as
she
was
,
as
to
commit
them
all
to
memory
,
with
scarce
an
effort
,
only
longing
to
know
the
whole
story
.
"
And
now
,
Nelly
,
what
is
your
secret
?
still
larger
than
Tiny
's
;
what
can
it
be
?
Come
,
guess
;
I
have
you
in
my
power
,
for
you
are
not
strong
enough
to
race
me
as
Em
.
would
,
and
so
I
will
be
more
merciful
.
What
of
all
things
would
you
like
the
best
?
—
one
,
two
,
three
guesses
,
and
then
I
'll
relieve
you
;
I
want
to
know
if
papa
and
mamma
have
looked
into
your
secret
chamber
of
wishes
,
as
they
have
done
in
all
of
ours
.
"
"
Do
not
be
afraid
of
guessing
,
Ellen
;
you
are
so
very
quiet
,
that
your
secret
chamber
of
wishes
,
as
Percy
calls
it
,
is
more
concealed
than
any
of
the
others
,
"
said
her
uncle
,
smiling
;
"
I
am
always
obliged
to
refer
to
your
aunt
.
"
"
Come
,
Nell
,
speak
or
I
will
indict
you
as
unworthy
of
any
thing
.
What
did
you
say
?
a
desk
!
Hurrah
!
then
,
there
it
is
;
and
what
a
beauty
—
rosewood
and
mother-of-pearl
—
just
fitted
for
an
elegant
young
lady
.
How
could
mamma
have
found
out
so
exactly
?
You
have
used
the
old
shabby
thing
Herbert
lent
you
,
as
quietly
and
contentedly
as
if
there
could
not
be
a
better
.
Do
let
us
examine
it
!
"
and
he
dragged
a
table
to
her
sofa
,
and
displayed
to
the
delighted
child
all
its
fittings-up
,
and
its
conveniences
,
and
the
pretty
pen-holder
and
pencil-case
,
and
fancy
wafers
,
and
sealing-wax
,
and
a
little
gold
seal
with
her
own
name
,
and
every
thing
that
could
possibly
be
thought
of
.
"
And
even
a
secret
drawer
,
"
exclaimed
Percy
,
quite
proud
of
the
discovery
.
"
Do
look
,
Ellen
;
why
,
you
can
keep
all
sorts
of
secrets
there
,
for
no
one
would
be
as
clever
as
I
am
to
find
out
the
spring
without
being
told
,
and
of
course
I
should
not
betray
it
:
"
and
he
laughingly
sent
away
every
body
while
he
explained
to
Ellen
the
spring
.
For
some
little
while
longer
did
the
young
party
examine
and
re-examine
and
talk
of
their
own
and
each
other
's
treasures
.
And
then
Mr.
Hamilton
bade
them
remember
,
that
,
though
it
was
New
Year
's
Eve
,
it
was
Sunday
evening
,
too
,
[
1
]
and
that
he
had
deferred
the
hour
of
evening
prayer
till
ten
,
that
they
might
have
time
to
keep
both
,
and
so
not
lose
the
sacred
music
which
was
always
part
of
their
Sunday
recreation
,
to
put
away
their
things
,
and
adjourn
to
their
music-room
.
And
he
was
obeyed
in
a
very
few
minutes
;
for
though
they
might
have
preferred
lingering
and
talking
where
they
were
,
what
exertion
could
be
too
great
for
those
who
so
thought
of
,
so
cared
for
them
?
Returning
happiness
had
had
such
a
beneficial
effect
,
that
,
though
Ellen
still
looked
pale
enough
for
her
aunt
not
to
feel
quite
comfortable
about
her
,
she
could
walk
without
any
return
of
pain
,
and
in
one
or
two
hymns
even
join
her
voice
with
her
cousins
'
,
though
it
was
weaker
than
usual
.
However
small
in
appearance
the
talent
for
music
,
still
Mrs.
Hamilton
cultivated
it
,
in
her
boys
as
well
as
her
girls
,
simply
for
the
sake
of
giving
them
home
resources
and
amusements
that
could
be
pursued
together
;
she
thought
it
such
a
mistaken
notion
in
education
to
imagine
that
only
perfection
was
worth
attaining
in
the
fine
arts
,
and
that
,
if
there
were
not
talent
enough
for
that
,
it
was
better
not
attempted
.
Many
a
home
might
have
envied
the
feelings
with
which
old
and
young
,
to
the
lowest
domestics
,
sought
their
pillows
that
night
;
for
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
so
lavish
in
their
indulgence
to
their
children
,
never
forgot
that
for
their
domestics
and
retainers
there
were
also
claims
on
New
Year
's
Eve
;
and
the
servants
'
hall
,
and
every
cottage
which
called
Mr.
Hamilton
landlord
,
had
vied
in
happiness
with
his
own
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
visited
Ellen
the
last
thing
,
to
see
that
she
was
quite
comfortable
,
and
that
there
was
no
return
of
pain
;
and
she
was
almost
startled
,
and
certainly
still
more
bewildered
as
to
how
such
a
depth
of
feeling
could
exist
with
such
a
real
childish
liability
to
error
,
and
why
it
should
be
so
carefully
concealed
,
by
the
way
in
which
Ellen
clung
to
her
,
as
she
bent
over
her
to
wish
her
good
night
,
with
the
same
unrestrained
affection
as
her
own
Emmeline
did
so
often
,
with
the
only
difference
,
that
with
the
latter
it
seemed
always
to
spring
from
the
very
exuberance
of
happiness
,
which
could
only
be
thus
displayed
.
With
Ellen
,
this
night
,
it
appeared
like
some
deep
,
quiet
feeling
,
almost
of
devotion
,
and
as
if
—
though
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
sober
reason
tried
to
persuade
her
imagination
that
it
was
too
much
meaning
to
attach
to
a
mere
embrace
—
she
would
thus
tell
her
how
intensely
she
felt
,
not
only
the
indulgence
of
that
evening
,
but
the
true
kindness
and
watchful
love
which
had
caused
the
preceding
sorrow
.
She
might
have
thought
,
as
no
doubt
many
of
our
readers
will
,
that
Ellen
was
much
too
young
and
too
childish
,
to
contrast
her
system
of
treatment
with
her
poor
mother
's
;
that
she
felt
her
soothing
care
in
her
hours
of
physical
suffering
—
her
indulgent
love
making
no
distinction
between
her
and
her
cousins
—
still
the
more
keenly
and
gratefully
,
from
the
recollection
of
her
own
mother
's
constant
preference
of
Edward
,
and
utter
neglect
of
her
;
and
that
this
contrast
so
deepened
the
love
she
bore
her
aunt
,
that
it
exceeded
in
intensity
even
that
borne
toward
her
by
her
own
children
.
—
Adults
will
think
this
all
very
fanciful
,
and
perhaps
interesting
,
but
wholly
improbable
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
herself
would
have
banished
the
idea
,
as
too
imaginary
to
be
entertained
seriously
for
a
moment
,
as
any
guide
for
her
conduct
.
Ellen
herself
could
not
have
explained
or
told
herself
that
so
she
felt
;
and
yet
,
notwithstanding
,
all
we
have
written
was
there
,
and
was
the
real
prompter
of
that
almost
passionate
embrace
.
"
Bless
you
,
my
darling
!
"
was
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
fond
reply
,
instead
of
permitting
the
child
to
perceive
the
surprise
it
excited
in
herself
;
and
Ellen
sunk
to
sleep
,
almost
more
happy
than
ever
,
in
her
little
life
,
she
had
felt
before
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
THE
CHILDREN
'S
BALL
.
If
the
thought
of
their
promised
ball
were
the
first
that
entered
the
minds
of
the
young
party
at
Oakwood
,
as
they
opened
their
eyes
on
New
Year
's
day
,
it
was
not
very
unnatural
.
Percy
gloried
in
the
anticipation
of
being
master
of
the
ceremonies
,
and
in
conducting
the
whole
affair
with
such
inimitable
grace
and
gallantry
,
that
every
one
should
declare
it
was
far
superior
to
any
party
,
old
or
young
,
of
the
season
,
except
Mr.
Howard
's
;
that
was
beyond
him
,
he
said
,
for
he
could
not
put
Mr.
Howard
's
head
on
his
shoulders
.
Herbert
anticipated
the
enjoyment
of
Mary
Greville
's
society
,
talking
to
and
dancing
with
her
undisturbed
,
and
to
hearing
the
almost
universal
remark
,
what
a
sweet
girl
she
was
.
Edward
did
not
exactly
know
what
he
expected
,
but
he
was
in
such
a
mood
of
hilarity
and
mischief
,
that
the
servants
all
declared
Master
Fortescue
was
"
mazed
.
"
To
Caroline
their
ball
was
almost
always
(
though
unconfessedly
)
the
happiest
evening
in
the
year
.
She
knew
she
was
handsome
—
Annie
Grahame
had
told
her
how
very
much
she
would
be
admired
in
London
,
and
that
if
she
were
not
her
very
dearest
friend
,
she
should
envy
her
beauty
terribly
.
She
often
in
secret
longed
painfully
for
admiration
and
homage
;
and
child
as
she
still
was
in
years
,
yet
at
her
own
house
,
and
as
Mr.
Hamilton
's
eldest
daughter
,
in
addition
to
her
real
attractions
,
she
always
received
both
in
sufficient
measure
,
as
to
satisfy
even
herself
.
She
delighted
in
those
evenings
when
it
so
chanced
that
her
brothers
had
young
friends
with
them
,
making
no
hesitation
in
confessing
that
she
very
much
preferred
conversing
with
boys
than
with
girls
,
there
was
so
much
more
variety
,
more
spirit
;
and
though
her
mother
's
heart
would
actually
tremble
at
the
fearful
ordeal
which
an
introduction
to
the
pleasures
of
the
world
would
be
to
such
a
character
,
still
she
would
not
check
the
open
expression
of
such
sentiments
by
reproving
them
as
wrong
,
and
not
to
be
encouraged
.
She
knew
that
though
education
might
do
much
,
very
much
,
it
could
not
make
natural
characters
all
alike
;
nor
,
in
fact
,
did
she
wish
it
.
She
did
not
grieve
and
complain
that
,
with
all
her
efforts
she
could
not
make
Caroline
give
her
as
little
trouble
and
anxiety
as
Emmeline
,
nor
did
she
imagine
that
she
should
see
the
effect
of
her
earnest
prayers
and
cares
all
at
once
,
or
without
constant
relapses
in
the
cherished
object
of
her
care
.
She
did
all
she
could
to
counteract
a
tendency
which
,
situated
as
she
would
be
when
she
entered
life
,
must
,
without
some
strong
,
high
principle
,
lead
to
suffering
,
and
,
perhaps
,
to
sin
—
for
what
is
coquetry
?
But
she
indulged
in
no
idea
of
security
,
never
believed
that
because
she
had
so
tried
,
so
striven
to
sow
the
good
seed
,
it
could
not
fail
to
bring
forth
good
fruit
.
She
knew
many
trials
might
be
in
store
for
her
;
for
how
might
she
hope
to
pass
through
life
blessed
as
she
was
then
?
It
might
please
her
Father
in
Heaven
to
try
her
faith
and
duty
through
those
she
loved
so
intensely
;
but
if
she
failed
not
in
her
task
,
he
would
bring
her
joy
at
last
.
To
Emmeline
the
idea
of
dancing
was
quite
enough
to
be
the
acme
of
enjoyment
.
The
only
drawback
was
,
that
in
the
intervals
of
rest
,
there
was
to
be
a
little
music
,
and
though
her
mother
had
excused
her
at
Mr.
Howard
's
,
she
knew
that
if
anybody
expressed
a
wish
to
hear
her
at
her
own
house
,
play
she
must
;
and
at
those
times
she
was
half
sorry
she
had
chosen
to
learn
the
harp
instead
of
the
piano
,
as
Caroline
played
so
well
on
the
latter
instrument
nobody
would
care
to
hear
her
;
but
the
harp
was
rather
a
novelty
,
and
no
little
girl
who
was
coming
played
it
,
and
so
she
was
sadly
afraid
there
was
no
escape
for
her
,
and
that
was
very
disagreeable
,
but
she
would
not
think
about
it
till
the
time
came
;
the
dancing
to
such
music
as
that
which
Mr.
Hamilton
had
ordered
from
Plymouth
was
joy
enough
.
Ellen
though
rather
afraid
of
so
many
strangers
,
could
not
resist
the
general
contagion
of
anticipated
enjoyment
.
She
did
not
indeed
wake
with
the
thought
of
the
ball
,
but
with
the
determination
to
learn
the
verse
of
the
Psalm
her
aunt
had
pointed
out
,
and
go
and
say
it
to
her
in
her
dressing-room
before
she
went
down
.
And
as
the
first
verse
was
very
short
she
learned
two
,
and
repeated
them
without
missing
a
word
,
and
so
as
if
she
quite
understood
them
,
that
her
aunt
was
very
much
pleased
;
and
then
Ellen
could
think
of
and
join
her
brother
's
and
cousins
'
delight
,
even
though
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
obliged
to
be
what
she
called
very
cruel
,
but
what
Ellen
knew
was
very
kind
,
though
it
did
seem
a
restraint
,
and
keep
her
very
quiet
all
day
,
instead
of
letting
her
run
about
from
room
to
room
,
as
Emmeline
and
Edward
,
and
even
Percy
did
,
for
fear
of
another
headache
;
and
so
well
did
quietness
succeed
,
that
she
looked
and
was
unusually
well
,
and
so
was
almost
lively
by
the
evening
.
Just
before
dinner
,
Percy
,
who
had
gone
to
ride
,
because
he
said
he
was
sure
he
should
get
into
some
scrape
if
he
did
not
give
a
natural
vent
to
his
spirits
,
galloped
back
in
company
with
a
gentleman
,
whose
presence
seemed
to
occasion
him
still
greater
excitement
.
"
Where
is
my
mother
?
and
is
my
father
at
home
?
"
he
asked
impatiently
,
flinging
his
horse
's
rein
to
Robert
,
desiring
him
to
take
every
care
of
the
gentleman
's
horse
,
as
he
should
not
let
him
leave
Oakwood
that
night
;
and
rushing
across
the
hall
threw
open
the
door
of
their
common
sitting-room
,
and
exclaimed
—
"
Mother
,
give
me
a
vote
of
thanks
and
praise
for
my
invincible
eloquence
!
—
Here
is
this
anchorite
,
this
monk
of
the
moor
,
who
,
when
I
first
encountered
him
,
seemed
so
doughty
a
denier
of
my
wishes
,
actually
conquered
—
led
a
slave
to
your
feet
;
reward
me
by
throwing
all
the
fascinations
you
possibly
can
in
his
way
,
that
he
may
only
dream
of
his
cold
ride
and
desolate
cottage
on
Dartmoor
to-night
.
"
"
Be
quiet
,
madcap
!
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
rising
with
very
evident
pleasure
,
and
coming
forward
with
extended
hand
;
"
your
noisy
welcome
will
not
permit
mine
to
be
heard
.
This
is
indeed
,
a
pleasure
,
Mr.
Morton
,
"
she
added
,
addressing
the
young
clergyman
with
that
earnest
kindness
,
which
always
goes
to
the
heart
,
"
and
one
that
Mr.
Hamilton
will
most
highly
appreciate
—
if
,
as
I
trust
,
the
chains
my
son
has
thrown
over
you
,
are
not
so
heavy
as
to
become
painful
.
"
"
I
should
rather
fear
the
pain
will
be
in
casting
them
off
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
not
in
the
wearing
them
,
"
replied
Mr.
Morton
,
almost
sadly
;
"
it
is
the
knowledge
,
that
mingling
as
often
in
your
home
circle
as
Mr.
Hamilton
and
my
friend
Percy
desire
,
would
wholly
unfit
me
for
the
endurance
of
my
loneliness
,
that
keeps
me
so
aloof
,
believe
me
.
Inclination
would
act
a
very
different
part
,
but
there
was
no
resisting
such
eloquence
and
such
happiness
as
his
to-day
,
"
he
continued
,
more
gayly
.
And
Mr.
Hamilton
and
Herbert
entering
as
he
spoke
,
their
greeting
was
quite
as
warm
and
eager
as
Percy
's
and
his
mother
's
,
and
Mr.
Morton
gave
himself
up
,
for
the
evening
at
least
,
to
enjoyment
.
His
own
generous
nature
had
been
particularly
struck
by
Percy
's
manly
conduct
with
regard
to
his
satire
,
and
different
as
were
their
characters
,
a
warm
friendship
from
that
moment
commenced
between
them
.
It
was
impossible
to
resist
Percy
's
warm-heartedness
of
word
and
deed
;
and
that
he
would
sometimes
leave
his
luxurious
home
,
and
stay
two
or
three
days
with
Mr.
Morton
,
seeming
actually
to
enjoy
the
rude
cottage
and
its
desolate
localities
,
and
spread
such
a
spirit
of
mirth
within
and
around
,
that
it
was
no
wonder
the
afflicted
young
man
looked
to
his
society
as
almost
his
greatest
pleasure
,
especially
as
he
felt
he
dared
not
too
often
accept
Mr.
Hamilton
's
continually-proffered
invitation
.
Oakwood
was
the
home
which
had
been
his
beau
idéal
for
long
years
,
but
which
now
seemed
wholly
unattainable
.
He
felt
himself
doomed
to
solitude
and
suffering
,
and
the
struggle
for
content
and
cheerfulness
was
always
more
painful
after
he
had
been
with
his
friends
.
When
all
preparations
for
the
evening
were
concluded
,
even
the
respective
toilets
completed
,
Percy
and
Emmeline
found
it
impossible
to
resist
trying
the
spring
,
as
they
called
it
,
of
the
oaken
floors
(
whence
the
carpets
had
been
removed
)
,
and
amused
themselves
by
waltzing
in
the
largest
circle
they
could
make
.
The
beautiful
suite
of
rooms
were
all
thrown
open
,
and
perceiving
Caroline
standing
by
the
piano
in
an
adjoining
apartment
,
Percy
called
out
—
"
Play
us
a
waltz
,
Caroline
,
there
's
a
love
;
the
very
liveliest
you
can
find
.
Tiny
and
I
want
to
try
the
boards
while
we
can
enjoy
them
to
perfection
,
that
is
,
when
we
are
the
only
persons
in
the
room
.
"
"
You
must
excuse
me
,
Percy
,
"
she
replied
somewhat
pettishly
.
"
I
should
think
you
would
have
dancing
enough
in
the
course
of
the
evening
;
and
what
will
our
friends
think
,
if
they
come
and
find
me
playing
?
"
"
Think
?
why
,
that
you
are
very
obliging
,
which
at
present
you
are
not
,
"
answered
Percy
,
laughing
;
"
never
mind
,
Emmy
;
let
us
try
what
our
united
lungs
will
do
.
"
"
You
may
if
you
like
,
Percy
,
but
really
I
am
not
clever
enough
to
dance
and
sing
at
the
same
time
—
I
should
have
no
breath
left
,
"
was
her
as
joyous
rejoinder
.
"
Come
and
dance
,
Caroline
,
if
you
will
not
play
;
"
exclaimed
Edward
,
who
after
decorating
his
button-hole
with
a
sprig
of
holly
,
seemed
seized
with
Percy
's
dancing-mania
.
"
Do
give
me
an
opportunity
of
practicing
the
graces
before
I
am
called
upon
to
display
them
.
"
"
My
love
of
dancing
is
not
so
great
as
to
attempt
it
without
music
,
so
practice
by
yourself
,
Edward
,
"
was
Caroline
's
quick
reply
.
"
Without
spectators
,
you
mean
,
Lina
,
"
observed
her
brother
,
very
dryly
;
and
as
Emmeline
begged
him
not
to
tease
her
,
he
asked
—
"
What
has
put
her
in
this
ill-humor
,
Emmy
?
"
"
Oh
,
I
do
n't
know
exactly
;
but
if
you
let
her
alone
,
she
will
soon
recover
it
.
"
"
Well
,
to
please
you
,
I
will
;
for
you
look
so
pretty
to-night
,
I
can
not
resist
you
.
"
"
Take
care
,
Percy
,
if
you
try
to
turn
my
head
with
such
speeches
,
I
shall
go
to
Edward
,
and
punish
you
by
not
waltzing
with
you
,
"
said
his
little
sister
,
shaking
her
head
at
him
with
a
comic
species
of
reproach
.
"
That
's
right
,
Emmy
;
do
not
take
flattery
even
from
a
brother
,
"
said
her
father
,
coming
forward
with
a
smile
;
"
but
will
you
not
tire
yourself
by
dancing
already
?
"
"
Oh
,
no
,
papa
;
I
feel
as
if
I
could
dance
all
night
without
stopping
.
"
"
Not
with
me
,
Emmeline
,
"
rejoined
Percy
,
shrugging
his
shoulders
with
horror
at
the
idea
;
"
I
should
cry
you
mercy
,
before
one
half
the
time
had
elapsed
.
"
"
But
if
you
are
not
to
be
tired
,
will
you
not
spoil
your
dress
,
and
disorder
all
these
flowing
curls
,
"
continued
Mr.
Hamilton
,
"
and
surely
that
will
be
a
great
misfortune
.
"
"
Indeed
it
will
not
,
papa
;
Percy
has
surely
too
much
regard
for
me
,
to
willfully
hurt
my
frock
,
and
if
my
hair
should
be
so
troublesome
as
to
get
out
of
order
,
Fanny
will
re-arrange
it
in
a
few
minutes
.
"
"
If
you
wish
to
cause
alarm
on
that
score
,
my
dear
father
,
"
said
Percy
,
with
marked
emphasis
,
"
You
must
go
to
Caroline
,
not
to
Emmeline
.
Thank
goodness
,
I
have
one
sister
above
such
petty
misfortunes
.
"
"
Are
you
not
too
hard
upon
Caroline
,
Percy
?
"
"
Yes
,
papa
,
he
is
indeed
;
do
not
mind
what
he
says
,
"
answered
Emmeline
,
very
eagerly
;
but
Percy
said
impetuously
—
"
I
am
not
,
Emmeline
.
I
would
lay
any
wager
that
some
thing
has
gone
wrong
with
her
dressing
,
to-night
,
and
so
made
her
pettish
.
Her
frock
is
not
smart
enough
,
or
she
does
not
wear
the
ornaments
she
wished
,
or
some
such
thing
.
"
Caroline
had
fortunately
quitted
the
music-room
,
or
this
speech
would
not
have
tended
to
restore
her
serenity
;
but
before
Mr.
Hamilton
could
reply
,
Edward
,
who
had
been
to
seek
Ellen
,
burst
into
the
room
exclaiming
—
"
Now
,
Percy
,
we
may
have
a
proper
waltz
;
aunt
Emmeline
says
we
may
have
just
one
before
any
one
comes
,
and
here
she
is
to
play
for
us
,
and
Ellen
for
my
partner
,
"
and
they
enjoyed
it
in
earnest
.
Mr.
Hamilton
watched
them
for
a
few
minutes
,
and
then
went
to
seek
his
elder
girl
.
She
was
alone
in
a
little
room
prepared
for
refreshments
,
tastefully
arranging
some
beautiful
flowers
in
a
bouquet
.
She
looked
up
as
he
entered
,
and
so
smiled
that
her
fond
father
thought
Percy
must
be
wrong
,
for
there
certainly
seemed
no
trace
of
ill-temper
.
"
Why
are
you
not
with
your
brothers
and
sister
in
the
drawing-room
,
my
dear
?
and
why
did
you
just
now
refuse
your
brother
such
a
trifling
favor
as
playing
a
waltz
?
"
he
asked
,
but
so
kindly
,
that
Caroline
,
though
she
blushed
deeply
,
instantly
replied
—
"
Because
,
papa
,
my
temper
was
not
quite
restored
;
I
went
into
the
music-room
to
try
mamma
's
remedy
of
solitude
for
a
few
minutes
,
but
Percy
spoke
to
me
before
I
had
succeeded
.
I
know
I
answered
him
pettishly
,
but
indeed
,
papa
,
"
she
added
,
looking
up
earnestly
in
his
face
,
"
indeed
he
is
very
provoking
sometimes
.
"
"
I
know
he
is
,
my
love
;
he
does
not
always
know
how
to
time
his
jokes
,
or
to
make
sufficient
allowance
for
dispositions
not
exactly
like
his
own
;
but
tell
me
,
what
first
occasioned
temper
so
to
fail
that
solitude
was
necessary
.
"
Caroline
's
blush
became
still
deeper
,
and
she
turned
away
her
head
saying
,
very
hesitatingly
—
"
For
such
a
very
,
very
silly
reason
,
papa
,
that
I
do
not
like
to
tell
you
.
"
"
Nay
,
my
dear
,
do
not
fear
that
I
shall
either
laugh
at
or
reproach
you
.
If
you
feel
yourself
how
very
silly
it
was
,
I
am
not
afraid
of
its
gaining
too
great
ascendency
,
even
if
you
fail
again
.
"
"
It
was
only
—
only
—
that
I
was
not
quite
satisfied
with
the
dress
mamma
desired
me
to
wear
to-night
,
papa
;
that
was
all
,
indeed
.
"
"
You
wished
,
perhaps
,
to
wear
a
smarter
one
,
my
love
,
"
replied
her
father
,
kissing
her
glowing
cheek
so
affectionately
,
that
the
pain
of
her
confession
was
instantly
soothed
;
"
but
,
indeed
,
I
think
mamma
has
shown
a
much
better
taste
.
It
requires
more
care
than
you
are
yet
perhaps
aware
of
to
dress
so
exactly
according
to
our
age
and
station
,
as
to
do
ourselves
justice
,
and
yet
excite
no
unpleasant
feelings
in
those
of
a
lower
,
and
no
contempt
in
those
of
a
higher
grade
.
Many
of
our
friends
who
are
coming
to-night
could
not
afford
to
dress
their
children
as
we
might
ours
,
and
do
you
not
think
it
would
be
both
inhospitable
and
unkind
,
by
being
over-dressed
,
to
excite
any
unpleasant
feeling
of
inferiority
in
their
minds
,
when
actually
none
exists
?
for
difference
of
fortune
alone
can
never
constitute
inferiority
.
I
am
wizard
enough
to
guess
that
was
mamma
's
reason
for
your
being
attired
so
simply
and
yet
so
prettily
to-night
,
and
equally
wizard
enough
to
guess
your
reason
for
wishing
to
be
smarter
—
shall
I
tell
it
you
?
"
he
added
,
playfully
.
"
Because
you
fancy
Miss
Grahame
will
be
attired
in
such
a
very
fashionable
London
costume
,
that
yours
will
appear
so
very
plain
and
so
childish
.
I
see
by
that
conscious
smile
,
I
have
guessed
correctly
;
but
,
indeed
,
I
would
not
exchange
my
dear
ingenuous
Caroline
,
even
were
she
attired
in
the
cottager
's
stuff
frock
for
Annie
Grahame
,
did
she
bring
worlds
as
her
dowry
.
And
as
you
like
ornaments
,
wear
this
,
"
he
added
,
tastefully
twining
a
superb
sprig
of
scarlet
geranium
in
the
rich
dark
hair
that
shaded
Caroline
's
noble
brow
;
"
and
if
mamma
inquires
,
tell
her
your
father
placed
it
there
,
as
a
token
of
his
approbation
,
for
temper
conquered
and
truth
unhesitatingly
spoken
—
spite
of
pain
.
"
Caroline
's
brilliant
eye
sparkled
with
a
more
delightful
sense
of
pleasure
than
any
triumph
of
dress
could
have
bestowed
,
and
in
answer
to
her
father
's
inquiry
,
for
whom
she
had
arranged
such
a
beautiful
bouquet
,
she
said
—
"
It
is
for
mamma
,
dear
papa
—
Emmeline
is
always
before
me
;
but
I
think
the
idea
of
to-night
's
enjoyment
has
so
bewildered
her
,
that
she
has
forgotten
it
,
so
I
may
just
have
time
to
present
it
before
any
one
comes
,
"
and
she
hastened
with
her
father
to
the
drawing-room
,
where
she
found
Mrs.
Greville
and
her
two
children
(
for
Alfred
was
at
home
for
a
few
months
)
,
in
addition
to
Mr.
Morton
and
their
own
family
group
;
and
the
young
clergyman
could
not
but
admire
the
natural
grace
with
which
Caroline
,
after
warmly
welcoming
her
guests
,
presented
her
flowers
to
her
mother
.
It
was
a
very
little
thing
,
but
the
joys
and
griefs
of
home
are
almost
all
made
up
of
little
things
,
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
pleased
,
not
from
the
attention
alone
,
but
that
it
proved
,
trifling
as
it
was
,
that
the
annoyance
and
discontent
which
her
command
had
occasioned
in
her
child
had
left
no
unkind
feeling
behind
them
;
and
the
manner
with
which
she
received
it
made
Caroline
very
happy
,
for
she
had
inwardly
feared
her
ill-temper
not
only
deserved
,
but
had
excited
her
mother
's
displeasure
.
Emmeline
's
look
of
disappointment
and
self-reproach
at
her
own
unusual
forgetfulness
was
so
irresistibly
comic
,
that
Percy
and
Edward
burst
into
an
immoderate
fit
of
laughter
,
which
the
former
only
checked
to
ask
Caroline
where
she
had
been
,
and
what
she
had
done
,
to
produce
such
an
extraordinary
change
for
the
better
in
her
appearance
in
so
short
a
time
.
"
Oh
,
you
have
no
right
to
my
secrets
,
Percy
,
"
was
her
perfectly
good-humored
reply
;
"
I
do
not
think
I
shall
answer
you
,
except
by
having
the
charity
to
refer
you
to
papa
,
who
has
produced
the
change
.
"
"
By
means
of
this
pretty
flower
then
,
I
imagine
,
"
said
Mrs.
Hamilton
;
"
its
power
I
do
not
pretend
to
know
,
but
the
taste
with
which
it
is
placed
might
vie
with
that
of
the
most
fashionable
artiste
of
the
metropolis
.
Mrs.
Greville
,
do
unite
with
me
in
congratulating
Mr.
Hamilton
on
his
new
accomplishment
.
"
The
rapid
succession
of
arrivals
prevented
any
further
remark
,
and
very
speedily
the
inspiring
sound
of
the
beautiful
music
,
which
was
stationed
in
a
sort
of
ante-chamber
between
the
drawing-room
and
ball-room
,
removed
any
thing
like
stiffness
or
reserve
which
the
younger
guests
might
have
at
first
experienced
among
themselves
.
After
two
or
three
quadrilles
,
the
spirit
of
enjoyment
seemed
to
reign
alone
,
not
only
among
the
dancers
themselves
,
but
even
those
who
sat
out
and
talked
,
either
from
preference
or
because
the
sets
were
full
.
Percy
,
his
brother
,
and
cousin
,
were
so
active
,
so
universal
in
their
attention
and
politeness
,
that
all
had
the
same
measure
of
enjoyment
;
there
was
no
sitting
down
four
or
five
times
consecutively
for
any
one
,
and
therefore
neither
weariness
nor
dissatisfaction
.
Where
there
is
a
great
desire
in
the
givers
of
a
party
to
make
every
one
as
happy
as
themselves
,
and
thoroughly
to
enjoy
it
,
they
seldom
fail
to
succeed
.
And
there
was
such
a
variety
of
amusements
in
the
various
rooms
that
were
thrown
open
,
suitable
for
all
ages
—
from
the
mammas
and
papas
to
the
youngest
child
,
that
it
was
scarcely
possible
to
feel
any
thing
but
pleasure
.
Very
many
sets
had
been
formed
and
danced
before
the
Grahame
family
appeared
,
and
as
Caroline
glanced
at
her
friend
and
even
at
her
little
sister
,
it
required
a
very
vivid
recollection
of
her
father
's
words
to
prevent
a
feeling
of
false
shame
,
while
Annie
looked
at
Emmeline
and
even
her
favorite
Caroline
for
a
few
minutes
with
almost
contempt
.
"
People
talk
so
very
much
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
taste
,
"
she
thought
,
"
but
she
can
have
none
in
dress
,
that
's
certain
—
why
no
one
could
distinguish
her
daughters
from
the
poorest
gentleman
's
here
!
—
But
no
one
can
mistake
my
rank
.
Thank
goodness
,
there
is
not
a
dress
like
mine
—
how
it
will
be
envied
!
"
If
looks
were
evidence
of
envy
,
Annie
had
them
to
her
heart
's
content
,
but
how
would
she
have
been
mortified
,
could
she
have
read
the
secret
meaning
of
those
looks
,
the
contrast
drawn
between
the
manners
and
appearance
of
Lady
Helen
's
daughters
and
those
of
the
Honorable
Mrs.
Hamilton
.
Lady
Helen
herself
,
indeed
,
when
she
saw
Caroline
and
Emmeline
,
was
quite
provoked
that
she
had
been
so
weak
as
to
permit
,
and
even
encourage
Annie
,
to
select
her
own
and
her
sister
's
costume
.
"
You
are
so
late
,
"
said
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
as
she
came
forward
to
greet
them
,
"
that
I
almost
gave
you
up
,
fearing
I
do
n't
exactly
know
what
.
I
do
hope
nothing
unpleasant
has
occasioned
it
.
"
"
Oh
,
no
,
"
was
Mr.
Grahame
's
reply
,
and
it
was
almost
bitter
;
"
only
Miss
Grahame
was
so
dreadfully
afraid
of
being
unfashionably
early
,
that
her
mother
did
not
choose
to
come
before
—
indeed
,
my
patience
and
my
little
Lilla
's
was
so
exhausted
,
that
we
thought
of
leaving
Cecil
to
be
their
beau
,
and
coming
alone
an
hour
ago
.
"
Lady
Helen
's
look
of
entreaty
at
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
answered
by
her
saying
directly
—
"
I
suppose
Annie
was
thinking
of
her
London
parties
,
and
forgot
how
completely
Gothic
we
are
as
to
hours
and
every
thing
else
in
Devonshire
.
But
you
must
try
and
forget
such
superior
pleasures
to-night
,
my
dear
girl
,
"
she
added
,
jestingly
,
though
the
young
lady
felt
it
rather
uncomfortably
as
earnest
,
"
or
I
fear
you
will
find
but
little
amusement
.
"
Alfred
Greville
at
that
moment
came
to
claim
Annie
as
his
partner
,
and
she
gladly
joined
him
,
for
though
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
"
certainly
no
taste
in
dress
,
"
she
never
felt
quite
at
her
ease
in
her
presence
.
Cecil
and
Lilla
were
soon
provided
with
little
partners
,
and
dancing
with
much
more
real
delight
than
their
sister
.
It
was
scarcely
possible
for
any
one
,
much
less
a
parent
,
to
look
at
Caroline
that
night
without
admiration
.
She
was
so
animated
,
so
graceful
,
so
pleasing
,
and
as
such
completely
the
center
of
attraction
(
and
really
without
any
effort
on
her
part
)
to
all
the
gentlemen
,
young
or
old
in
the
room
.
The
lads
congregated
round
her
,
and
it
was
rather
a
difficult
task
to
keep
clear
of
offense
,
when
so
very
many
more
entreated
her
to
dance
than
the
length
of
the
evening
permitted
;
but
she
managed
to
talk
to
all
,
and
yet
not
to
neglect
any
of
her
own
sex
,
for
she
always
refused
to
dance
,
if
she
fancied
her
being
in
a
quadrille
prevented
any
couple
who
had
not
danced
so
much
,
and
at
those
times
contrived
to
conciliate
five
or
six
instead
of
only
one
.
Emmeline
took
charge
of
the
younger
children
,
often
refusing
to
dance
with
older
boys
,
who
would
have
made
her
much
pleasanter
partners
,
that
she
might
join
the
little
quadrille
and
set
them
all
right
.
"
I
am
really
glad
to
see
Ellen
among
us
to-night
,
and
seeming
truly
to
enjoy
herself
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greville
,
addressing
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
who
was
standing
rather
apart
at
the
moment
,
watching
Caroline
with
such
mingled
feelings
of
pride
and
dread
,
that
she
was
quite
glad
when
her
friend
's
voice
disturbed
her
train
of
thought
.
"
She
looked
so
ill
in
church
yesterday
,
that
I
half
feared
we
should
not
see
her
.
I
told
her
I
was
quite
grieved
that
she
was
too
unwell
to
be
at
Mr.
Howard
's
last
Friday
,
and
—
"
"
What
did
she
say
?
"
inquired
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
anxiously
.
"
That
it
was
not
illness
which
prevented
her
;
but
she
looked
so
confused
and
pained
that
I
changed
the
subject
directly
,
and
the
smile
soon
came
back
.
"
"
You
touched
on
a
very
painful
theme
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
with
real
relief
;
"
Ellen
and
I
were
not
quite
as
good
friends
as
we
usually
are
,
last
week
,
and
my
poor
little
girl
felt
my
severity
more
than
I
imagined
or
meant
.
I
gave
her
to
your
dear
Mary
's
especial
care
to-night
,
for
she
is
so
timid
,
that
left
quite
to
herself
,
I
was
afraid
it
would
be
more
pain
than
pleasure
.
Mary
has
taken
my
hint
most
admirably
,
for
Ellen
seems
quite
happy
.
"
"
It
would
be
rather
hard
,
if
your
little
niece
's
were
the
only
sad
face
in
this
scene
of
enjoyment
;
surely
,
if
ever
there
were
happiness
without
alloy
,
it
is
here
.
"
"
If
you
think
so
Mrs.
Greville
,
you
will
agree
with
my
friend
Morton
,
who
has
just
been
half
poetizing
half
philosophizing
on
this
scene
,
"
said
Mr.
Hamilton
joining
them
,
with
the
young
clergyman
leaning
on
his
arm
.
"
He
says
there
is
something
singularly
interesting
in
watching
the
countenances
and
movements
of
children
,
and
in
tracing
the
dawnings
of
respective
characters
.
"
"
You
are
not
one
of
those
,
then
,
who
think
childhood
a
mere
negative
species
of
existence
,
"
rejoined
Mrs.
Greville
.
"
Indeed
I
do
not
;
there
is
much
more
pleasure
to
me
in
watching
such
a
scene
,
than
a
similar
one
of
adults
.
It
is
full
of
that
kind
of
poetry
,
which
,
from
the
beauty
and
freshness
of
the
present
,
creates
a
future
of
happiness
or
sorrow
,
good
or
evil
,
as
something
in
each
countenance
seems
dimly
to
foretell
.
How
many
will
be
the
longing
thoughts
thrown
back
in
after
years
upon
to-night
!
"
"
Do
you
think
then
childhood
the
happiest
season
of
life
?
"
He
answered
in
the
affirmative
,
but
Mr.
Hamilton
shook
his
head
.
"
I
differ
from
you
,
my
good
friend
,
"
he
said
.
"
Childhood
feels
its
griefs
as
bitterly
as
those
of
maturer
years
.
We
are
apt
to
think
it
was
all
joy
in
the
retrospect
,
perhaps
because
it
has
not
the
anxiety
and
cares
of
riper
years
,
but
sorrow
itself
is
felt
as
keenly
.
From
reason
not
being
perfectly
formed
,
the
difficulty
to
control
self-will
,
to
acquiesce
in
the
,
to
them
,
incomprehensible
wishes
of
parents
or
guardians
,
the
restraint
they
are
often
compelled
to
use
,
must
be
all
trials
even
to
well-regulated
children
,
and
to
those
subject
to
the
caprices
of
weakness
,
indolence
,
neglect
,
indulgence
at
one
time
,
and
tyranny
at
another
,
feelings
disbelieved
in
,
and
therefore
never
studied
or
soothed
—
the
little
heart
thrown
back
upon
itself
—
Morton
,
believe
me
,
these
are
trials
as
full
of
suffering
,
and
as
hard
to
be
endured
,
as
those
which
belong
to
manhood
.
"
"
You
may
be
right
,
"
replied
Morton
;
"
but
do
you
not
think
there
is
an
elasticity
in
childhood
which
flings
off
sorrow
,
and
can
realize
happiness
sooner
than
older
years
?
"
"
Undoubtedly
,
and
most
happy
it
is
that
they
are
so
constituted
,
else
what
would
become
of
them
if
their
susceptibilities
for
either
joy
or
sorrow
are
equally
quick
.
If
the
former
did
not
balance
the
latter
,
how
would
their
tender
frames
and
quick
affections
bear
their
burden
?
The
idea
that
childhood
is
in
itself
the
happiest
season
in
life
is
so
far
mischievous
,
that
it
prevents
the
necessary
care
and
watchfulness
,
which
alone
can
make
it
so
.
But
we
must
not
philosophize
any
more
,
for
it
has
made
us
all
grave
.
I
see
my
wife
is
addressing
Miss
Grahame
,
and
I
think
it
is
for
music
.
Come
,
Morton
,
take
Mrs.
Greville
to
the
music-room
,
and
woo
melody
instead
of
poetry
for
