evening when they arrived at the house of Albert's
father, where they found considerable company collected, as was
customary on the celebration of his birth-day.

[_A&M_ (second paragraph):

Edgar had a sister who, for some time had resided with her cousin
at New-London. She was now about to return, and it was designed
that Edgar should go and attend her home: previous to the day on
which he was to set out, he was unfortunately thrown from his
horse, which so much injured him as to prevent his prosecuting
his intended journey; he therefore invited Alonzo to supply his
place....
...
It was evening when Alonzo arrived at the house of Edgar's cousin.]

He received his children with gladness and joy, and Theodore with
friendly politeness.

[_A&M_:

Her cousin waited on Alonzo to the ball, and introduced him to
Melissa, who received him with politeness.]

"This meeting must be highly pleasing to you, miss," said Theodore to
Alida, "after your long absence from home." "It is so, indeed," replied
she, "and highly gratifying to my father, to meet here his children, and
relations, on the annual occasion of celebrating his birth-day, when we
are honoured with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins,
nephews, and nieces, that one would suppose we were connected with half
the families in the state. And sometimes they do not all leave us, in
several weeks afterwards, and regale themselves in riding about the
country and visiting the neighbours in the vicinity."

[_A&M_:

"We have been thronged with company for several days, [said Melissa]
once a year my father celebrates his birth day, when we are honored
with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and
nieces, that were you present, you would suppose we were connected
with half the families in Connecticut.]

In the course of the evening they were joined by a number from the
neighbouring villages, and among the rest was the son of a gentleman who
had been long acquainted with the family. He was a gay young man; his
address was easy; his manners rather voluptuous than refined; confident,
but not ungraceful.

[_A&M_:

Melissa's partner at the ball was the son of a gentleman of
independent fortune in New-London. He was a gay young man, aged
about twenty five. His address was easy, his manners rather
voluptuous than refined; confident but not ungraceful.]

He led the ton in fashionable cir