So, with Mr.George facing her at table, the Countess sat down, determined to eat and be happy.
A man with the education and tastes of a young country squire is not likely to know much of the character of women; and of the marvellous power they have of throwing a veil of oblivion between themselves and what they don't want to remember, few men know much.

Mr.George had thought, when he saw Mrs.Strike leaning to Evan, and heard she was a Harrington, that she was rather like the Lymport family; but the reappearance of Mrs.Strike, the attention of the Duke of Belfield to her, and the splendid tactics of the Countess, which had extinguished every thought in the thought of himself, drove Lymport out of his mind.
There were some dinner guests at the table-people of Fallow field, Beckley, and Bodley.

The Countess had the diplomatist on one side, the Duke on the other.

Caroline was under the charge of Sir Franks.

The Countess, almost revelling in her position opposite Mr.George, was ambitious to lead the conversation, and commenced, smiling at Melville: 'We are to be spared politics to-day?
I think politics and cookery do not assimilate.' 'I'm afraid you won't teach the true Briton to agree with you,' said Melville, shaking his head over the sums involved by this British propensity.
'No,' said Seymour.