Now that she had got him, she was not going to let him fall back into the perils of Miss Thorne's intrigues, or even of Miss Thorne's propriety.

"It is quite essential," she said, "that you should be here a few days before her, so that she may see that you are at home." Frank did not understand the reasoning; but he felt himself unable to rebel, and he therefore, remained there, comforting himself, as best he might, with the eloquence of the Honourable George, and the sporting humours of the Honourable John.
Mr Moffat's was the earliest arrival of any importance.

Frank had not hitherto made the acquaintance of his future brother-in-law, and there was, therefore, some little interest in the first interview.

Mr Moffat was shown into the drawing-room before the ladies had gone up to dress, and it so happened that Frank was there also.

As no one else was in the room but his sister and two of his cousins, he had expected to see the lovers rush into each other's arms.