Brownie colored violently at the name, and glanced in surprise at her husband, wondering how it happened that she, of all others, should be the first to call upon her.
Much pleased, Adrian rose to greet her ladyship, and, leading her to Brownie, said, to her increasing surprise:
“Grandmother, this is my darling. Will you love her for my sake first, until you come to know her, when, I am sure, you will love her for her own?”
The old lady had hardly seen Brownie when she was at the castle, she had been so much engaged with her company, and she would never have recognized her as the same being as she stood before her now in all her bright loveliness.
She was charmed with her!
Her quick eye took in at a single glance every item of her tasteful toilet, and even the narrow little foot, with its arching instep; and she knew at once that she was in the presence of a true and well-born lady.
Her heart, which had been filled with dread and distress ever since she had first known of her boy’s marriage, instantly settled down into a state of restful satisfaction and delight.
She greeted the young bride with the utmost graciousness, and said, sweetly, as she kissed her:
“My dear, I do not think I shall even need Adrian’s recommendation to make me love you.”
Brownie concealed her amazement at this new development as best she could.