er, shock
hands with her. He might have kissed her, too, had he been so minded,
for Florence was too confused to be capable of making any exact
reckoning in the matter. He might have done so--that is, as far as
Florence was concerned. It may be a question whether Mary Clavering
would not have objected; for this clerical gentleman was the Rev. Edward
Fielding, who was to become her husband in three days' time.

"Now, Florence," said Fanny, "come up stairs into mamma's room and have
some tea, and we'll look at you. Harry, you needn't come. You've had her
to yourself for a long time, and can have her again in the evening."

Florence, in this way, was taken up stairs and found herself seated by a
fire, while three pairs of hands were taking from her her shawls and hat
and cloak, almost before she knew where she was.

"It is so odd to have you here," said Fanny. "We have only one brother,
so, of course, we shall make very much of you. Isn't she nice, mamma?"

"I'm sure she is; very nice. But I shouldn't have told her so before her
face, if you hadn't asked the question."

"That's nonsense, mamma. You musn't believe mamma when she pretends to
be grand and sententious. It's only put on as a sort of company air, but
we don't mean to make company of you."

"Pray don't," said Florence.

"I'm so glad you are come just at this time," said Mary. "I think so
much of having Harry's future wife at my wedding. I wish we were both
going to be married the same day."

"But we are not going to be married for ever so long. Two years hence
has been the shortest time named."

"Don't be sure of that, Florence," said Fanny. "We have all of us
received a special commission from Harry to talk you out of that heresy;
have we not, mamma?"

"I think you had better not tease Florence about that immediately on her
arrival. It's hardly fair." Then, when they had drunk their tea,
Florence was taken away to her own room, and before she was allowed to
go down stairs she was intimate with both the girls, and had so far
overcome her awe of Harry's mother as to be able to answer her without
confusion.

"Well, sir, what do you think of her?" said Harry to his father, as soon
as they were alone.

"I have not had time to think much of her yet. She seems to be very
pretty. She isn't so tall as I thought she would be."

"No; she's not tall," said Harry, in a voice of disappointment.

"I've no doubt we shall like her very much. What money is she to