Gossip of course was excited on the subject of the choice of a partner made by the member for the county.

Cornelia placed her sisters in one of their most pleasing of difficulties.

She had not as yet pledged her word.

It was supposed that she considered it due to herself to withhold her word for a term.

The rumour in the family was, that Sir Twickenham appreciated her hesitation, and desired that he might be intimately known before he was finally accepted.