ABSTRACT
On the day appointed, at exactly half-past six, arrived at Woodlands, Miss Hautenville ‘and suite,’ consisting of Mrs. Stockwell, her niece, Miss Ferrars, and her son Mr. Samuel Stockwell. The moment the carriage was seen driving up the avenue – Lady Torrendale, who had been the whole morning doing nothing, said to Matilda, ‘now I must run and dress myself for these good folks; and do you entertain them ’till I / return; – how kind it was of you to come so early!’ Scarcely had her Ladyship escaped, when in bustled Mrs. Stockwell, almost ‘standing on end’ with finery. She was followed by Arbella, drest with a united richness and elegance well suited to her youth, her figure, and pretensions: while Miss Hautenville, who was enabled, by the generosity of her friend, to make a display of almost equal expence, if not equal taste, seemed by her air to think she did her too much honor in accepting her benefits. This lady was to be introduced to Matilda, as well as Mr. Stockwell, an ugly, conceited young man, with the pride of wealth written on every feature. This business over, the next great difficulty was to get Mrs. Stockwell, and consequently the rest of the company, seated. Her town vulgarity, transplanted into the country, had flourished into a kind of double blossom, of superfluous politeness, which was sometimes rather troublesome. It was to be feared, that neither persuasion nor threats could shake her unalterable determination to remain next the door.
