Mrs. M’Kinley wept like a child, fell at Julia’s feet, and begged she would miss-caw and abuse her, aw at iver she could, and no break her heart by sick goodness. When the surprise had at length a little subsided, many spacious apartments were visited; and the picture gallery in particular; which, bearing on its now naked walls the numerous traces of departed frames of various shapes and sizes, gave thus a silent and melancholy testimony of how great a loss had been sustained. Edmund reminded Lord Arandale, that a clue might be found to some useful discoveries, in what Gotterimo had said of the London swindler having sold to a friend of his, plate, pictures, coins, &c.
His lordship requested the gentlemen to be present while he examined the rest of the servants. The ladies walked on towards the view-seat.
CHAPTER XXII.
“Oh! who can speak what all can feel!”
Julia and Frances, during the straying and waiting which ensued, happened to wander into a path which separated them from the rest of the young people.
“Do you know, Julia,” said Frances, “that I have become of late a great judge of love?”
“And pray how has that happened?” asked Julia, trying to laugh.
“Why, it is in consequence of all those new lovers that you and I have had of late. I now understand the business perfectly. I know their ways of looking, and their ways of sighing, and their ways of lowering the voice.—There is no describing it, you know; but, in short, I now understand it perfectly.”