encountered the gaze of
Mr. Higgins, the Radical and Dissenting editor of a newspaper which had
several times abused Mr. Woodbourne. The moment he caught her eye, he
bowed with something of a triumphant air; and she, doubly ashamed of
herself and provoked with him, bent her head so low that he might well
imagine that she returned the bow. She hoped by looking down to escape
all further observation, but unfortunately for her, Mrs. Turner had
taken care to find a conspicuous place for her party; and Katherine,
who had by this time quite forgotten her doubts and misgivings, was
nodding and smiling to everyone, with what she considered the utmost
grace and affability. Anne, meanwhile, was trying to account for
Elizabeth's ever having thought of going to such a place, wondering
what Sir Edward and Lady Merton would think of the expedition, and for
a moment considering whether Mr. Woodbourne could approve of it, yet at
the same time keenly enjoying all that was ludicrous in the scene, and
longing to talk it over with Rupert. She was also much diverted with
Mr. Augustus Mills's eloquent lecture, in which she afterwards declared
that she heard the words 'barbarous institution' fifteen times
repeated, and 'civilized and enlightened age,' at least twenty-three
times. She was, however, not a little fatigued before it was nearly
concluded, and was heartily glad when after an hour and a half it was
terminated by a mighty flourish of rhetoric, upon the universal
toleration, civilization, and liberty enjoyed in the nineteenth century.

Deafened by the applause of those who had heard little and understood
less, half stifled by the heat of the room, and their heads aching from
the smell of gas, the girls now hoped to escape; but they were forced
to wait till the crowd nearer the door had dispersed, and then to
listen to the numerous compliments and congratulations which poured in
upon Mrs. Turner from all quarters before they could reach the open
air; and then, strenuously refusing all invitations to take tea in St.
Martin's Street, they happily regained the Vicarage. Helen and Lucy met
them at the door, with hopes that they had had a pleasant evening.

Elizabeth answered quickly, 'Come, come, say no more about it, it was a
foolish affair altogether;' but the inquiry, after the feelings she had
seen expressed in Elizabeth's face, struck Anne as so excessively
ridiculous, that the moment they were in the drawing-room she sank down