Besides these, each male and female servant in the house was made happy in the possession of a new and complete Sunday suit.
After the distribution of the presents on Christmas morning the family went to church.
At the end of the service they returned to an early dinner, and spent the afternoon and evening in social enjoyment.
As usual in the Christmas holidays, General Lyon gave one large party, to which he invited all his friends and acquaintances for thirty miles around.
And at this party he formally introduced Drusilla as:
“My niece, Mrs. Alexander Lyon.”
And this he did with so much quiet dignity, as in most cases to repress all expression of surprise from those who could not fail to wonder at such an introduction. And if any had the temerity to utter their astonishment, they were courteously silenced by the answer of the stately old gentleman.
“Old people cannot and ought not to choose for their sons in affairs of the heart. I had hoped that my nephew and my granddaughter would have married each other, for my sake; but I was wrong. They have each chosen partners for their own sakes; and they were right. Come here, Dick: Sir and madam, let me present to you Mr. Richard Hammond as my future and well-beloved grandson-in-law.”
After that what could the gossips say or do? Of course nothing but bow, courtesy and congratulate; though some among them, being maliciously inclined, and envying the young heiress of Old Lyon Hall her beauty and her wealth, did shrug their shoulders and raise their eyebrows as they whispered together: That it was very strange Miss Lyon’s marriage being put off so frequently and she herself at last passed so carelessly from one bridegroom to another; and that it looked but too likely she would be an old maid after all; for she was getting on well in years now!
A very false and spiteful conclusion this, as the beautiful Anna was not yet twenty-three years old.