ain faces,
awkward shape, and still more awkward attire were such a foil to her
glowing loveliness as set it in high relief. It was seldom that the
coach from Wildairs Hall drew up before the lych-gate, but upon rare
Sunday mornings Mistress Wimpole and her two charges contrived, if Sir
Jeoffry was not in an ill-humour and the coachman was complaisant, to be
driven to service. Usually, however, they trudged afoot, and, if the day
chanced to be sultry, arrived with their snub-nosed faces of a high and
shiny colour, or if the country roads were wet, with their petticoats
bemired.

This morning, when the coach drew up, the horses were well groomed, the
coachman smartly dressed, and a footman was in attendance, who sprang to
earth and opened the door with a flourish.

The loiterers in the churchyard, and those who were approaching the gate
or passing towards the church porch, stared with eyes wide stretched in
wonder and incredulity. Never had such a thing before been beheld or
heard of as what they now saw in broad daylight.

Mistress Clorinda, clad in highest town fashion, in brocades and silver
lace and splendid furbelows, stepped forth from the chariot with the air
of a queen. She had the majestic composure of a young lady who had worn
nothing less modish than such raiment all her life, and who had prayed
decorously beneath her neighbours' eyes since she had left her nurse's
care.

Her sisters and their governess looked timorous, and as if they knew not
where to cast their eyes for shamefacedness; but not so Mistress
Clorinda, who moved forward with a stately, swimming gait, her fine head
in the air. As she stepped into the porch a young gentleman drew back
and made a profound obeisance to her. She cast her eyes upon him and
returned it with a grace and condescension which struck the beholders
dumb with admiring awe. To some of the people of a commoner sort he was
a stranger, but all connected with the gentry knew he was Sir John Oxon,
who was staying at Eldershawe Park with his relative, whose estate it
was.

How Mistress Clorinda contrived to manage it no one was aware but
herself, but after a few appearances at church she appeared at other
places. She was seen at dinners at fine houses, and began to be seen at
routs and balls. Where she was seen she shone, and with such radiance as
caused matchmaking matrons great dismay, and their daughters woeful
qualms. Once having shone, she could not be extinguis