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minute。
All these thoughts rushed through Miss Nancy’s mind； in their
habitual succession； in the moments between her first sight of Mr。
Godfrey Cass standing at the door and her own arrival there。
Happily； the Squire came out too； and gave a loud greeting to her
father； so that somehow under cover of this noise she seemed to
find concealment for her confusion and neglect of any suitably
formal behaviour； while she was being lifted from the pillion by
strong arms which seemed to find her ridiculously small and light。
And there was the best reason for hastening into the house at
once； since the snow was beginning to fall again； threatening an
unpleasant journey for such guests as were still on the road。 These
were a small minority； for already the afternoon was beginning to
decline； and there would not be too much time for the ladies who
came from a distance to attire themselves in readiness for the
early tea which was to inspirit them for the dance。
There was a buzz of voices through the house； as Miss Nancy
entered； mingled with the scrape of a fiddle preluding in the
kitchen； but the Lammeters were guests whose arrival had
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evidently been thought of so much that it had been watched for
from the windows； for Mrs。 Kimble； who did the honours at the
Red House on these great occasions； came forward to meet Miss
Nancy in the hall； and conduct her upstairs。 Mrs。 Kimble was the
Squire’s sister； as well as the doctor’s wife—a double dignity； with
which her diameter was in direct proportion； so that； a journey
upstairs being rather fatiguing to her； she did not oppose Miss
Nancy’s request to be allowed to find her way alone to the Blue
Room； where the Miss Lammeters’ bandboxes had been deposited
on their arrival in the morning。
There was hardly a bedroom in the house where feminine
compliments were not passing and feminine toilettes going
forward； in various stages； in space made scanty by extra beds
spread upon the floor； and Miss Nancy； as she entered the Blue
Room； had to make her little formal curtsy to a group of six。 On
the one hand； there were ladies no less important than the two
Miss Gunns； the wine…merchant’s daughters from Lytherly；
dressed in the height of fashion； with the tightest skirts and the
shortest waists； and gazed at by Miss Ladbrook （of the Old
Pastures） with a shyness not unsustained by inward criticism。
Partly； Miss Ladbrook felt that her own skirt must be regarded as
unduly lax by the Miss Gunns； and partly that it was a pity the
Miss Gunns did not show that judgment which she herself would
show if she were in their place； by stopping a little on this side of
the fashion。 On the other hand； Mrs。 Ladbrook was standing in
skullcap and front； with her turban in her hand； curtsying and
smiling blandly； and saying； “After you； ma’am；” to another lady in
similar circumstances； who had politely offered the precedence at
the looking…glass。
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But Miss Nancy had no sooner made her curtsy than an elderly
lady came forward； whose full white muslin kerchief and mob…cap
round her curls of smooth gray hair were in daring contrast with
the puffed yellow satins and topknotted caps of her neighbours。
She approached Miss Nancy with much primness； and said； with a
slow； treble suavity—“Niece； I hope I see you well in health。” Miss
Nancy kissed her aunt’s cheek dutifully； and answered； with the
same sort of amiable primness； “Quite well； I thank you； aunt； and
I hope I see you the same。”
“Thank you； niece； I keep my health for the present。 And how is
my brother…in…law？”
These dutiful questions and answers were continued until it
was ascertained in detail that the Lammeters were all as well as
usual； and the Osgoods likewise； also that niece Priscilla must
certainly arrive shortly； and that travelling on pillions in snowy
weather was unpleasant； though a joseph was a great protection。
Then Nancy was formally introduced to her aunt’s visitors； the
Miss Gunns； as being the daughters of a mother known to their
mother； though now for the first time induced to make a journey
into these parts； and these ladies were so taken by surprise at
finding such a lovely face and figure in an out…of…the…way country
place that they began to feel some curiosity about the dress she
would put on when she took off her joseph。 Miss Nancy； whose
thoughts were always conducted with the propriety and
moderation conspicuous in her manners； remarked to herself that
the Miss Gunns were rather hard…featured than otherwise； and
that such very low dresses as they wore might have been
attributed to vanity if their shoulders had been pretty； but that；
being as they were； it was not reasonable to suppose that they
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showed their necks from a love of display； but rather from some
obligation not inconsistent with sense and modesty。 She felt
convinced； as she opened her box； that this must be her aunt
Osgood’s opinion； for Miss Nancy’s mind resembled her aunt’s to a
degree that everybody said was surprising； considering the
kinship was on Mr。 Osgood’s side； and though you might not have
supposed it from the formality of their greeting； there was a
devoted attachment and mutual admiration between aunt and
niece。 Even Miss Nancy’s refusal of her cousin Gilbert Osgood （on
the ground solely that he was her cousin）； though it had grieved
her aunt greatly； had not in the least cooled the preference which
had determined her to leave Nancy several of her hereditary
ornaments； let Gilbert’s future wife be whom she might。
Three of the ladies quickly retired； but the Miss Gunns were
quite content that Mrs。 Osgood’s inclination to remain with her
niece gave them also a reason for staying to see the rustic beauty’s
toilette。 And it was really a pleasure—from the first opening of the
bandbox； where everything smelt of lavender and rose…leaves； to
the clasping of the small coral necklace that fitted closely round
her little white neck。 Everything belonging to Miss Nancy was of
delicate purity and nattiness： not a crease was where it had no
business to be； not a bit of her linen professed whiteness without
fulfilling its profession； the very pins on her pincushion were stuck
in after a pattern from which she was careful to allow no
aberration； and as for her own person； it gave the same idea of
perfect unvarying neatness as the body of a little bird。 It is true
that her light…brown hair was cropped behind like a boy’s； and was
dressed in front in a number of flat rings； that lay quite away from
her face； but there was no sort of coiffure that could make Miss
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Nancy’s cheek and neck look otherwise than pretty； and when at
last she stood co