The colonel, however, with all his propensity to oblivion, had sufficient memory to recollect that his business was to ascertain whether Mr Darnley, son of the rector of Neverden, still continued his acquaintance with a young lady or not. At the table of Sir George Aimwell there was introduced a young lady, Miss Glossop. The name of Glossop bears no very marked affinity to that of Primrose, but by some strange fatality or fatuity, the gallant colonel confounded them. The young lady, by a certain dashing style of behaviour, passed off with the colonel as a remarkably fine young woman; and when Sir George Aimwell spoke banteringly to her concerning Robert Darnley, then the gallant negociator was sure that this was the lady in question. There was a still farther corroboration in the circumstance that this lady was gifted with remarkable vocal powers. The colonel was no great judge of music, but he could see that she played very rapidly, and he could hear that she sung very loud; and therefore he entertained the same notion of her musical talents which she herself did. The musical exhibition took place after tea. Lady Aimwell cared little about music or anything else, and in the presence of her husband's visitors she generally shewed her dignity by looking sulky. But Colonel Crop was so vastly polite, that her ladyship was generally more civil and courteous to him than to any other guests who were attracted to Neverden Hall by the fame of the baronet's cook. And while Miss Glossop was amusing herself with melodious vociferations, and singing and playing so loud that the poor magistrate could hardly keep his eyes shut, Colonel Crop and Lady Aimwell were engaged in a whispering or muttering conversation, all about nothing at all. They both agreed that it was remarkable weather, neither of them had remembered it so mild for many years. Lady Aimwell was very well pleased to hear Colonel Crop's common-place nothings which he had brought from London, and her ladyship related all that had taken place at Neverden since the colonel was there last. Her ladyship was not especially partial to Miss Glossop. There was some little jealousy in the heart of Lady Aimwell that this stranger, as it were, should occupy so much of the baronet's attention. Disagreeable people are generally the most jealous. Her ladyship noticed the music. "I wonder," muttered the fretful one to Colonel Crop, "that Sir George can bear to hear such a constant noise. I am sure he knows nothing of music. There is a great deal of talk about her fine voice and her rapid execution; her voice sounds to my ear very much like the voice of a peacock." Saying this her ladyship smiled, because it was almost witty, and the colonel also smiled, for he too thought it was witty. "But I beg your pardon, colonel," said her ladyship; "perhaps you may be partial to music?"