She questioned herself on the subject over and over again, and found herself bound to admit that such was the fact.

At last, about five o'clock, having reasoned much with herself, and rebuked herself for her own timidity, she descended into the drawing-room,--Lady Glencora having promised that she would at that hour be there,--and on opening the door became immediately conscious that she was in the presence of her august relative.

There sat Lady Midlothian in a great chair opposite the fire, and Lady Glencora sat near to her on a stool.

One of the Miss Pallisers was reading in a further part of the room, and there was no one else present in the chamber.
The Countess of Midlothian was a very little woman, between sixty and seventy years of age, who must have been very pretty in her youth.
At present she made no pretension either to youth or beauty,--as some ladies above sixty will still do,--but sat confessedly an old woman in all her external relations.

She wore a round bonnet which came much over her face,--being accustomed to continue the use of her bonnet till dinner time when once she had been forced by circumstances to put it on.