Lord Ennismore cast a heavy glance upon Julia, and smiled. "Dr. Anstruther is considered clever; I trust no unfortunate accident will occur at Bedinfield. You, my dear mother, are extremely quick-sighted, and will avert much that is unpleasant."
"You flatter me, my dear lord; but my fears create watchfulness, and often, I fear, give disturbance to my sweet Julia. Sir John, we are a whist party; may I challenge you to play? I shall give my young friend the range of our library as her amusement. I remember Miss Wetheral's taste for reading. My poor memory does yet retain the remembrance of my friends' tastes. My dear lord will be so honoured in the task of introducing you to his library. Allow me to light a taper."
The Countess rose with graceful ease and lightness of step to effect her purpose. Lord Ennismore rose also, and bowed to Christobelle. He spoke so heavily, and with such dull precision.
"I shall have pleasure in doing the honours of the Bedinfield library to Miss Wetheral. I cannot flatter myself it surpasses the very handsome collection at Wetheral Castle, nevertheless, it claims distinction. Do me the honour, Miss Wetheral, to accept my arm."
Christobelle placed her arm within the awkwardly-extended elbow which Lord Ennismore held out for acceptance, and they proceeded to the library. His lordship stood in the centre of the room, and harangued with the tone and manner of a showman who describes by rote what his mind cannot understand.
"You see here, my agreeable Miss Wetheral, a collection of the best authors. To the right you will perceive the most approved ancients; to the left, the most approved moderns. Before us you will observe a splendidly-bound collection of the works of our novelists, such as Fielding, &c.; and, behind us, there is an equally select collection of plays, from our great Shakespeare to almost the present hour."
"This is a magnificent library, Lord Ennismore, indeed."
"It is considered so, Miss Wetheral. Bedinfield has long held pre-eminence in Staffordshire; perhaps I am not wrong in asserting its superiority to many mansions in the neighbouring counties."
"I will, my lord, if you please, borrow Shakespeare while you are at cards. I promise to replace the book."
"We have a librarian, who replaces the different works, and attends to the thing, Miss Wetheral; do not give yourself the trouble. My mother arranges every thing with perfect order."