She was only afraid that the dinner might be spoiled, to the discredit of her housewifely accomplishments.

Even the usual passiveness of the Dominie was so far disturbed that he twice went to the window which looked out upon the avenue, and twice exclaimed, 'Why tarry the wheels of their chariot ?' Lucy, the most quiet of the expectants, had her own melancholy thoughts.

She was now about to be consigned to the charge, almost to the benevolence, of strangers, with whose character, though hitherto very amiably, displayed, she was but imperfectly acquainted.

The moments, therefore, of suspense passed anxiously and heavily.
At length the trampling of horses and the sound of wheels were heard.

The servants, who had already arrived, drew up in the hall to receive their master and mistress, with an importance and EMPRESSEMENT which to Lucy, who had never been accustomed to society, or witnessed what is called the manners of the great, had something alarming.