"At length, my sweet lady," she said, "you are enthroned, and we all come to do you homage. But how very discreet you were; never betrayed by word, look, or gesture, the secret which you were quite sure of; you are really cut out for the part you have to play. I envy you _votre petite air moue et doucereux_; don't you, Lady Tilney?" "Nothing can be better," she replied; "I prophesy that she will play her part well." "You are all exceedingly obliging," Lady Glenmore replied, "but I have no part to play. My husband, being in the ministry, luckily does not impose any duty upon me, besides that of living more in the world than I might otherwise do." "Poor lady, I pity you!" said Lady Tenderden ironically. "You will change your ideas, I foresee that," said Lady Tilney prophetically. "You will remain just vat you are," said the Comtesse Leinsengen impertinently, when the door opened, and the Duke of Mercington entered. "I beg you to receive my warmest congratulation, my dear Lady Glenmore," he said, approaching her in his most _empressé_ manner, as if his whole heart was in his words, and bowing to the other ladies slightly as he passed them. "I give you and Glenmore joy alike; him that he has gained his wish, and you in the consciousness that he has done so; for I know that your happiness must be _mutual_ to render it really happiness." "Oh, duke, I assure you all your compliments are trown away upon dat ladi, on dat subject at least, for she declare not to like to be a minister's wife at all." "Impossible! she is joking," replied the duke, looking at Lady Glenmore with one of those apparently ingenuous smiles which habit had forced upon his features, and which once were captivating so long as they _were_ natural; "impossible that you who were formed to shine in society should shrink from a situation for which you are so singularly well adapted." "You are too good, duke, and I accept your flattering judgment upon _credit_, for I have not been tried yet, and I _may_ disappoint you." "Oh never, we all know how charming you are; don't we, Lady Tilney?" "Yes, duke, you know we all bow to your judgment in every thing, and I am sure we shall not begin to differ on _this_ point," she replied, with an air of pique that was ill concealed under an affected _bonhommie_.