His friends, the Jocelyns of Beckley Court, will--I fear--hardly dispense with him and Lady Splenders--you know her?
the Marchioness of Splenders?
No ?--by repute, at least: a most beautiful and most fascinating woman; report of him alone has induced her to say that Evan must and shall form a part of her autumnal gathering at Splenders Castle.

And how he is to get out of it, I cannot tell.

But I am sure his multitudinous engagements will not prevent his paying due court to Mistress Wishaw.' As the Countess intended, Mistress Wishaw's vanity was reproved, and her ambition excited: a pretty doublestroke, only possible to dexterous players.
The lady rejoined that she hoped so, she was sure; and forthwith (because she suddenly seemed to possess him more than his son), launched upon Mel's incomparable personal attractions.

This caused the Countess to enlarge upon Evan's vast personal prospects.

They talked across each other a little, till the Countess remembered her breeding, allowed Mrs.
Wishaw to run to an end in hollow exclamations, and put a finish to the undeclared controversy, by a traverse of speech, as if she were taking up the most important subject of their late colloquy.