that it
had been starched after it was on.

Aunt Matty had, in her Irish poplin, a dress that was fearfully and
wonderfully made, and dated back to about a quarter of a century before.
It was of the colour of the herb whose perfume it exhaled--lavender;
and every time you approached her you began to think of damask--not
roses, but table-cloths and household linen, put away in great drawers,
in a country house.

This is not a wardrobe style of story, but we must stay to mention the
costume of Frances, Lady Rea, who came into the room with her cheeks
redder than ever, although she had tried cold water, hot water, lavender
water, and every cooling liquid she could think of. She was in peony
red--a stiff silk of Sir Hampton's own choice, and she sought his eye,
trembling lest he should be displeased; but as he emitted a crackle,
produced by his cravat, as he bent his head in satisfactory assent, a
bright smile shot across the pleasant face, dimpling it all over, and
she exclaimed--

"Lor', my dears, how well you look. There, they may come now as soon as
they like."

"Mind your dress, Fanny," said Aunt Matty, austerely, as she sat minding
her own. "Sh!"

She held up her fan to command silence, as Sir Hampton cleared his
throat, chuckled violently, and spoke--

"Er-rum, I think our guests will not find our circle much less
attractive than--er-rum!--Ah, here they are!"

Volume 2, Chapter XIV.

AFTER DINNER.

Sir Hampton was right--the visitors had arrived; and almost directly
after the ordinary greetings, during which Tiny never raised her eyes,
and Fin was so short that Sir Hampton darted an angry glance at her, the
dinner was announced. Trevor took in Lady Rea; Vanleigh, Tiny;
Landells, Fin; and Pratt, Aunt Matty--Sir Hampton bringing up the rear.

The dinner was good, and passed off with no greater mishaps than a
slight distribution of the saccharine juices in a dish in the second
course down the back of Aunt Matilda's poplin--Edward being the
offender; but the sweetly gracious smile with which the lady bore her
affliction was charming, and Fin looked her astonishment at her sister.

But the dinner was not a pleasant one, even if good; there was too much,
"Thompson, that hock to Sir Felix Landells;" "Thompson, the dry
champagne to Captain Vanleigh"--it was hard work to Sir Hampton not to
add "of the Guards;" "Thompson, let Mr Trevor taste that Clos-Vougeot;"
and it was a relief when the ladies rose.

"