Buoyed up by all these exhilarating feelings, she had almost forgotten her real situation, and the terms on which she and this beloved Fitzhenry lived; and in these flattering dreams, the two intervening days quickly passed, and that on which she was to expect him at last arrived. The whole of the morning was spent in restless anticipations of happiness, picturing to herself their meeting, fancying what he would say to her, how he would look at her, till she actually heard his carriage drive up to the door. With a beating heart she flew to the window, and her delighted eye caught the first glance of the face she loved. His two friends were with him, and all three entered the room together. Emmeline was so overjoyed at seeing him again after a month’s separation—(a century in love’s calculation of time,) that fearful of expressing too much, she remained as if spell-bound in her place. Fitzhenry came up to her, but his manner was, if possible, more cold, more embarrassed than ever. How unlike the meeting that she had indulged herself in acting over and over in her own mind! He introduced his two companions to her. Mr. Pelham had one of those calm but expressive countenances which directly obtains our interest; and when he held out his hand to Emmeline, claiming the friendship of his friend’s wife, the interest seemed reciprocal. Indeed, his look of anxious curiosity when presented to her, would have been embarrassing, had not his manner been marked with a peculiar appearance of kindness. Very different was the impression made on Emmeline by Mr. Moore. Although he looked clever and lively, she shrunk at once from him; the glance of his eye had something penetrating and satirical which she dreaded. With a pure guileless heart, and an unreproving conscience, poor Emmeline could not help fearing a quick observer of feelings in all the little daily occurrences of life. The rest of the party that Fitzhenry had announced followed the day after. Lady Saville was what might be called agreeable in society, although more from possessing the polish and easy manner of the world, than from any decided talents or accomplishments. At first, she and her sister had, with the true impertinence of fine ladies, settled between them, that Emmeline could only be fit to laugh at; and they anticipated no little amusement in quizzing the banker’s daughter. But when they found her, as even they were themselves obliged to allow, quite on a par with themselves, perfect in manners, and in fact possessing the outward good breeding of the world, although free from that falsehood and selfishness which so often destroys its charm, they changed their tone, and resolved they would patronize her, declaring, “she was quite a person to be brought forward.” And they soon, found real pleasure in her society and conversation.