Soonafterfiveo’clocktherewasabrilliantcrowdwanderingandrestinginthepleasantspaces；andEthel，wearingadiaphanouslywhiterobeandcarryingarushbasketfullofwhitecarnations，wasmovingamongthemdistributingtheflowers。Shewasthusthecenterofalittlelaughing，banteringgroupwhentheNicholasRawdonpartyarrived。
NicholasremainedwiththeSquire，Mrs。
RawdonandtheyoungmenwenttowardEthel。Mrs。Rawdonmadeaveryhandsomeappearance——\"anaristocraticBritanniainwhitelibertysilkandoldlace，\"whisperedRuth，andEthellookedupquickly，tomeethermerryeyesfullofsomeunexplainedtriumph。Intruth，theproudmotherwasanticipatingagreatpleasure，notonlyinthepresentationofheradoredson，butalsointhecuriosityandastonishmentshefeltsurewouldbeevokedbyhisfriend。So，withtheboldnessofonewhobringshappytidings，shepressedforward。Ethelsawherapproach，andwenttomeether。Suddenlyherstepswerearrested。Anextraordinarythingwasgoingtohappen。TheApolloofherdreams，thesingeroftheHollandHousepavement，wasatMrs。Rawdon’sside，wastalkingtoher，wasevidentlyafamiliarfriend。Shewasgoingtomeethim，tospeaktohimatlast。Shewouldhearhisnameinafewmoments；allthatshehadhopedandbelievedwascomingtrue。Andtheclear，resonantvoiceofLydiaRawdonwaslikemusicinherearsasshesaid，withanairoftriumphshecouldnothide：
\"MissRawdon，Iwantyoutoknowmyson，Mr。JohnThomasRawdon，andalsoJohnThomas’scousin，Mr。TyrrelRawdon，oftheUnitedStates。\"ThenMr。TyrrelRawdonlookedintoEthel’sface，andinthatmarvelousmeetingoftheireyes，swiftasthefiringofagun，theirpupilsdilatedandflashedwithrecognition，andthebloodrushedcrimsonoverbothfaces。Shegavethegentlemenflowers，andlistenedtoMrs。Rawdon’schatter，andsaidinreplysheknewnotwhat。Aswiftandexquisiteexcitementhadfollowedhersurprise。Feelingsshecouldnotvoicewerebeatingatherlips，andyetsheknewthatwithoutherconsciouswillshehadexpressedherastonishmentandpleasure。
Itwas，indeed，doubtfulwhetheranyafterspeechorexplanationwouldasclearlysatisfybothheartsasdidthatmomentaryflashfromsoultosoulofmutualremembranceandinterest。