'No, certainly not,' said Ethel, who had hardly expected this from Flora.
Perhaps her sister guessed her thought, for she said, 'Things are best as they are, Ethel; I am not fit to have a beautiful admired daughter. All the past would too easily come over again, and my poor Margaret's troubles may be the best balance for her.'
'Yes,' said Ethel, 'it is bad enough to be an heiress, but a beautiful heiress is in a worse predicament.'
'Health would improve her looks,' began the maternal instinct of defence, but then breaking off. 'We met Lord H—— yesterday, and the uniform is to be like the northern division. Papa will hear it officially to-morrow.'
'The northern has gray, and green facings.'
'You are more up in it than I. All we begged for was, that it might be inexpensive, for the sake of the townspeople.'
'I hear of little else,' said Ethel, laughing; 'Dr. Spencer is as hot on it as all the boys. Now, I suppose, your party is to come off!'
'Yes, it ought,' said Flora, languidly, 'I waited to see how Harry was, he is a great element towards making it go off well. I will talk it over with Blanche, it will give somebody pleasure if she thinks she manages it.'
'Will it give George no pleasure?'
'I don't know; he calls it a great nuisance, but he would not like not to come forward, and it is quite right that he should.'