As for Ellinor, she trembled all over with happiness.  Such a summer for the blossoming of flowers and ripening of fruit had not been known for years; it seemed to her as if bountiful loving Nature wanted to fill the cup of Ellinor’s joy to overflowing, and as if everything, animate and inanimate, sympathised with her happiness.  Her father was well, and apparently content.  Miss Monro was very kind.  Dixon’s lameness was quite gone off.  Only Mr. Dunster came creeping about the house, on pretence of business, seeking out her father, and disturbing all his leisure with his dust-coloured parchment-skinned careworn face, and seeming to disturb the smooth current of her daily life whenever she saw him.

Ellinor made her appearance at the Hamley assemblies, but with less eclat than either her father or her lover expected.  Her beauty and natural grace were admired by those who could discriminate; but to the greater number there was (what they called) “a want of style”—­want of elegance there certainly was not, for her figure was perfect, and though she moved shyly, she moved well.  Perhaps it was not a good place for a correct appreciation of Miss Wilkins; some of the old dowagers thought it a piece of presumption in her to be there at all—­but the Lady Holster of the day (who remembered her husband’s quarrel with Mr. Wilkins, and looked away whenever Ellinor came near) resented this opinion.  “Miss Wilkins is descended from Sir Frank’s family, one of the oldest in the county; the objection might have been made years ago to the father, but as he had been received, she did not know why Miss Wilkins was to be alluded to as out of her place.”  Ellinor’s greatest enjoyment in the evening was to hear her father say, after all was over, and they were driving home—­

“Well, I thought my Nelly the prettiest girl there, and I think I know some other people who would have said the same if they could have spoken out.”

“Thank you, papa,” said Ellinor, squeezing his hand, which she held.  She thought he alluded to the absent Ralph as the person who would have agreed with him, had he had the opportunity of seeing her; but no, he seldom thought much of the absent; but had been rather flattered by seeing Lord Hildebrand take up his glass for the apparent purpose of watching Ellinor.

“Your pearls, too, were as handsome as any in the room, child—­but we must have them re-set; the sprays are old-fashioned now.  Let me have them to-morrow to send up to Hancock.”

“Papa, please, I had rather keep them as they are—­as mamma wore them.”

He was touched in a minute.

“Very well, darling.  God bless you for thinking of it!”

But he ordered her a set of sapphires instead, for the next assembly.