So warm and genial was the weather that the trees, flowers, and shrubs were cozened into budding forth.

The buds were withered by a killing frost which came upon us later in the season at a time when the spring should have been abroad in all her graciousness, and that year was called the year of the leafless summer.
One afternoon Sir George received a distinguished guest in the person of the Earl of Derby, and the two old gentlemen remained closeted together for several hours.

That night at supper, after the ladies had risen from table, Sir George dismissed the servants saying that he wished to speak to me in private.

I feared that he intended again bringing forward the subject of marriage with Dorothy, but he soon relieved my mind.
"The Earl of Derby was here to-day.

He has asked for Doll's hand in marriage with his eldest son and heir, Lord James Stanley, and I have granted the request." "Indeed," I responded, with marvellous intelligence.