Betty was not more sharp-sighted than any member of the Woodburn family. All had long seen the intense admiration of Henry Thorsby for Letty, and that Letty was growing strongly attached to him. But no one, except Betty, augured anything but the greatest satisfaction in the alliance. No direct overtures had yet been made by Mr. Thorsby; but his devotion to her was obvious in all his actions, and in his constant rides to Woodburn Grange, rather than to his former favourite places of resort. Though his gaiety, and freedom of speech, and fondness for a little satirical mirth, at the expense of her beloved Methodists, offended Betty Trapps and others of her society, his moral character was without a blemish: and his social position and wealth, as shown by the extent of his business, were all that could be desired. CHAPTER IX. THE FRIENDS’ PARTY. A few days after came an invitation to Woodburn Grange, from Mrs. Heritage, to a party at Fair Manor. It was a thing that created no little consternation. “Oh!” said Letty, “I cannot really go! I dare not go for the world! To think only of another such a sermon! It would kill me.” “No,” said Ann, anxiously, “you, at all events, cannot go, dearest Letty; and I don’t feel to like it by any means myself. What are we to do? what shall we say? And how very odd—the Heritages don’t profess to give parties; they keep an open house, as it were. It is very strange—what can it mean?” “It means,” said Mr. Woodburn, “I dare say, that Mrs. Heritage feels that she left a gloomy impression the other day behind her, and she is desirous of effacing it by a pleasant party at Fair Manor.” “A pleasant party at Fair Manor! Oh, dear father, how _can_ a Quaker party be a pleasant party?” exclaimed Letty, walking quickly about the room. And then, laughing in her usual gaiety, “Only to imagine a party of Friends, who neither sing, nor dance, nor play any music, nor any game but fox-and-goose, or drafts or dominoes, and who make such frightful addresses—being a _pleasant_ party! Why, to them a letter from a distance, or a very dull poem indeed, is an excitement. Think of David and Dorothy Qualm, helping to make up a pleasant party! But, really, it is a dilemma! What is to be done?” “I am sure I don’t know,” said Mrs. Woodburn. “I would not for the world offend dear Mrs. Heritage, nor dear Miss Heritage, they are so good, and, spite of that unlucky sermon, Mrs. Heritage is so wise and remarkable a woman. I think, my dear, you and I and George may go, and let Ann and Letty be gone out. They can go somewhere for a few days.”