She fretted, she teased, she pouted, she cried, she did every thing as a child does; and thus carried up to the age of eighteen the bloom and charm of eight.
The two sisters were nieces of the Dowager Lady Dalrymple.

Another niece also accompanied them, who was a cousin of the two sisters.

This was Miss Ethel Orne, a young lady who had flourished through a London season, and had refused any number of brilliant offers.

She was a brunette, with most wonderful dark eyes, figure of perfect grace, and an expression of grave self-poise that awed the butterflies of fashion, but offered an irresistible attraction to people of sense, intellect, intelligence, esprit, and all that sort of thing--like you and me, my boy.
I am taking up too much time and anticipating somewhat, I fear, by these descriptions; so let us drop Miss Ethel.
These ladies being thus all related formed a family party, and had made the journey thus far on the best of terms, without any other escort than that which was afforded by their chaperon, general, courier, guide, philosopher, friend, and Mentor--the Dowager Lady Dalrymple.
The party was enlarged by the presence of four maids and a foreign gentleman.

This last-mentioned personage was small in stature, with a very handsome face and very brilliant eyes.