Nothing could exceed the deference he always showed to him.

His mother had long been dead.
I do not know whether it was Edward's own ambition or his proud father's wishes that had led him to attend the Hamley assemblies.

I should conjecture the latter, for Edward had of himself too much good taste to wish to intrude into any society.

In the opinion of all the shire, no society had more reason to consider itself select than that which met at every full moon in the Hamley assembly-room, an excrescence built on to the principal inn in the town by the joint subscription of all the county families.

Into those choice and mysterious precincts no towns person was ever allowed to enter; no professional man might set his foot therein; no infantry officer saw the interior of that ball, or that card-room.