At this step in the consultation the interruption of the dinner-bell put a stop to the discussion, and the two gentlemen soon found themselves pleasantly engaged in paying an unequivocal and practical homage to the culinary talents of the baronet’s cook. Colonel Crop was unusually attentive to Miss Glossop, and the young lady in return was most politely attentive to Colonel Crop. But Lady Aimwell was not so very polite to Colonel Crop as was her general custom; for her ladyship had been mightily displeased with the announcement which she had recently received from her right worshipful lord and master. In proportion, however, to Lady Aimwell’s lack of courtesy, was the redundance and superabundance of Miss Glossop’s politeness and vivacity; so that ere the cloth was removed, her ladyship was in a complete fit of the sullens, and took it into her head to have the head-ache, and expressed her intention of retiring immediately. Miss Glossop, as in duty bound, attended her discourteous relative, and was in full expectation of hearing a long dismal lecture all about propriety and all that sort of thing. There are two sorts of people that do not like to be lectured--those that do not understand the subject on which they are lectured, and those that do understand it. For such as know all that can be said, do not mightily desire to hear it all over again; and such as know nothing about it, care nothing about it; and if there be a few in an intermediate class who know a little about the matter, they do not in general desire to have their little knowledge increased by lecturing. When Mr Martin’s Act about cruelty to animals was passed, not a word was said about lecturing. This was a great omission. But fortunately for Arabella Glossop, it so happened that Lady Aimwell was too far gone in ill humour even to administer a lecturing to her high-minded relative. Her ladyship merely, in a pettish tone, said, “I beg, madam, that I may not detain you from more agreeable company.” Miss Glossop, who knew that time would be lost if she should enter upon any discussion, readily took her aunt at her word, and politely wishing her good night, returned to the company more agreeable to herself. It is not known by what arguments, or with what eloquence, the gallant colonel convinced and assured Miss Glossop of the supposed fact of Lord Spoonbill’s tender affection and high regard for her; nor is there any record of the readiness or reluctance with which the young lady believed it all; it is only known that in the absence of Lady Aimwell, which gave the colonel an opportunity of executing his commission, Miss Glossop was put in possession of the important information, and that she was delighted at the thought of marrying the son of an Earl, especially such a charming man as Lord Spoonbill.