suchanightasthisbroughtaregularharvestofgainstothetwooldmenwho，inwhatwascalledthe’town’slivery，’trottedbackwardsandforwardswiththeirmanyloadsofladiesandfinery。Thereweresomepostchaises，andsome’flys，’butaftermaturedeliberationMissBrowninghaddecidedtokeeptothemorecomfortablecustomofthesedan—chair；’which，’asshesaidtoMissPiper，oneofhervisitors，’cameintotheparlour，andgotfullofthewarmair，andnippedyouup，andcarriedyoutightandcosyintoanotherwarmroom，whereyoucouldwalkoutwithouthavingtoshowyourlegsbygoingupsteps，ordownsteps。’Ofcourseonlyonecouldgoatatime；buthereagainalittleofMissBrowning’sgoodmanagementarrangedeverythingsoverynicely，asMissHornblower（theirothervisitor）
remarked。Shewentfirst，andremainedinthewarmcloak—roomuntilherhostessfollowed；andthenthetwoladieswentarm—in—armintotheball—room，findingoutconvenientseatswhencetheycouldwatchthearrivalsandspeaktotheirpassingfriends，untilMissPhoebeandMissPiperentered，andcametotakepossessionoftheseatsreservedforthembyMissBrowning’scare。Thesetwoyoungerladiescamein，alsoarm—in—arm，butwithacertaintimidflurryinlookandmovementverydifferentfromthecomposeddignityoftheirseniors（bytwoorthreeyears）。Whenallfourwereoncemoreassembledtogether，theytookbreath，andbegantoconverse。’Uponmyword，IreallydothinkthisisabetterroomthanourAshcombeCourt—house！’’Andhowprettilyitisdecorated！’pipedoutMissPiper。’Howwelltherosesaremade！ButyouallhavesuchtasteatHollingford。’’There’sMrsDempster，’criedMissHornblower；’shesaidsheandhertwodaughterswereaskedtostayatMrSheepshanks’。MrPrestonwastobethere，too；butIsupposetheycouldnotallcomeatonce。Look！
andthereisyoungRoscoe，ournewdoctor。IdeclareitseemsasifallAshcombewerehere。MrRoscoe！MrRoscoe！comehereandletmeintroduceyoutotheMissBrownings，thefriendswearestayingwith。Wethinkveryhighlyofouryoungdoctor，Icanassureyou，MissBrowning。’MrRoscoebowed，andsimperedathearinghisownpraises。ButMissBrowninghadnonotionofhavinganydoctorpraised，whohadcometosettleevenontheveryvergeofMrGibson’spractice，soshesaidtoMissHornblower，—’Youmustbeglad，Iamsure，tohavesomebodyyoucancallin，ifyouareinanysuddenhurry，orforthingsthataretootriflingtotroubleMrGibsonabout；andIshouldthinkMrRoscoewouldfeelitagreatadvantagetoprofit，ashewillnaturallyhavetheopportunityofdoing，bywitnessingMrGibson’sskill！’ProbablyMrRoscoewouldhavefeltmoreaggrievedbythisspeechthanhereallywas，ifhisattentionhadnotbeencalledoffjustthenbytheentranceoftheveryMrGibsonwhowasbeingspokenof。AlmostbeforeMissBrowninghadendedhersevereanddepreciatoryremarks，hehadaskedhisfriendMissHornblower，—’Whoisthatlovelygirlinpink，justcomein？’’Why，that’sCynthiaKirkpatrick！’saidMissHornblower，takingupaponderousgoldeyeglasstomakesureofherfact。’Howshehasgrown！TobesureitistwoorthreeyearssincesheleftAshcombe—shewasveryprettythen—peopledidsayMrPrestonadmiredherverymuch；butshewassoyoung！’’Canyouintroduceme？’askedtheimpatientyoungsurgeon。’Ishouldliketoaskhertodance。’WhenMissHornblowerreturnedfromhergreetingtoherformeracquaintance，MrsGibson，andhadaccomplishedtheintroductionwhichMrRoscoehadrequested，shebeganherlittleconfidencestoMissBrowning。’Well，tobesure！Howcondescendingweare！IrememberthetimewhenMrsKirkpatrickworeoldblacksilks，andwasthankfulandcivilasbecameherplaceasaschoolmistress，andashavingtoearnherbread。Andnowsheisinasatin；andshespeakstomeasifshejustcouldrecollectwhoIwas，ifshetriedveryhard！Itisn’tsolongagosinceMrsDempstercametoconsultmeastowhetherMrsKirkpatrickwouldbeoffended，ifshesentheranewbreadthforherlilacsilk—gown，inplaceofonethathadbeenspoiltbyMrsDempster’sservantspillingthecoffeeoveritthenightbefore；andshetookitandwasthankful，forallshe’sdressedinpearl—greysatinnow！AndshewouldhavebeengladenoughtomarryMrPrestoninthosedays。’’Ithoughtyousaidheadmiredherdaughter，’putinMissBrowningtoherirritatedfriend。’Well！perhapsIdid，andperhapsitwasso；IamsureIcan’ttell；hewasagreatdealatthehouse。MissDixonkeepsaschoolinthesamehousenow，andIamsureshedoesitagreatdealbetter。’’TheearlandthecountessareveryfondofMrsGibson，’saidMissBrowning。
’Iknow，forLadyHarriettolduswhenshecametodrinkteawithuslastautumn；andtheydesiredMrPrestontobeveryattentivetoherwhenshelivedatAshcombe。’’Forgoodness’sakedon’tgoandrepeatwhatI’vebeensayingaboutMrPrestonandMrsKirkpatricktoherladyship。Onemaybemistaken，andyouknowIonlysaid\"peopletalkedaboutit。\"’MissHornblowerwasevidentlyalarmedlesthergossipshouldberepeatedtotheLadyHarriet，whoappearedtobeonsuchanintimatefootingwithherHollingfordfriends。NordidMissBrowningdissipatetheillusion。
LadyHarriethaddrunkteawiththem，andmightdoitagain；and，atanyrate，thelittlefrightshehadputherfriendintowasnotabadreturnforthatpraiseofMrRoscoe，whichhadoffendedMissBrowning’sloyaltytoMrGibson。MeanwhileMissPiperandMissPhoebe，whohadnotthecharacterofesprit—fortstomaintain，talkedofthedressesofthepeoplepresent，beginningbycomplimentingeachother。’Whatalovelyturbanyouhavegoton，MissPiper，ifImaybeallowedtosayso：sobecomingtoyourcomplexion！’’Doyouthinkso？’saidMissPiper，withill—concealedgratification；itwassomethingtohavea’complexion’atforty—five。’IgotitatBrown’s，atSomerton，forthisveryball。IthoughtImusthavesomethingtosetoffmygown，whichisn’tquitesonewasitoncewas；andIhavenohandsomejewellerylikeyou’—lookingwithadmiringeyesatalargeminiaturesetroundwithpearls，whichservedasashieldtoMissPhoebe’sbreast。’Itishandsome，’thatladyreplied。’Itisalikenessofmydearmother；