On the morning which followed Colonel Crop’s last mentioned visit to Neverden Hall, Lady Aimwell took her seat in the drawing-room as usual, and spread before her eyes the accustomed Stackhouse. But her ladyship found it difficult to command her attention, and to find room in her mind for any other thoughts than those which related to Arabella Glossop. And the young lady as usual made her appearance. At her entering the apartment Lady Aimwell lifted her eyes and fixed them frowningly on the young lady. It is not pleasant to be frowned at, even though it be but by an automaton. There is in the human mind, especially in the minds of the young, a love of cheerfulness, and this principle was exceedingly strong in Arabella Glossop. Lady Aimwell had never been very courteous to this gay-spirited young woman, and yet her ladyship expected, or seemed to expect, that Miss Glossop ought to be most especially courteous to her. Lady Aimwell made herself as repulsive as she possibly could to Miss Glossop, and then with a most diverting simplicity expressed her wonderment that the young lady should seem so readily to avoid her company. Lady Aimwell had certain obsolete notions of decorum, and divers crotchets about propriety which she had learned from her grandmother’s sampler, and curiously did she profess herself astonished that the hoydenish daughter of a successful attorney should not have the same starched notions and the same precise formality. It has been said that Lady Aimwell looked frowningly upon Miss Glossop, as soon as the young lady entered the drawing-room. But Miss Glossop, with all her rudeness and vulgarity, was not so rude or vulgar as to return the frown. On the contrary, she very kindly asked her ladyship if she had recovered from her yesterday’s indisposition. The question was asked very civilly, and with the most conciliating intonation of voice; but it was answered with great incivility and with a most sneering cadence. “You care much about my health,” replied Lady Aimwell. To this no reply was made; and Miss Glossop, seeing that her ladyship was in an ill-humour, thought it best to let that humour take its course. But as the young lady had no very great desire to undergo a dissertation on propriety, she was preparing to leave the room. Thereupon Lady Aimwell was roused to greater volubility; and, closing the great book with a great noise, she said, “It is very unaccountable, Miss Glossop, that you have so great a dislike to me that you take every opportunity to avoid me.” At hearing this Miss Glossop returned, and would have made something of a reply, but Lady Aimwell prevented her by continuing the oration.