On this her eye devoured it; and in one moment she saw
that the writer declined, politely but peremptorily, the proposed
alliance between his son and her daughter.
The mother looked up from this paper at that living radiance and
incarnate melody in a sort of stupor: it seemed hardly possible to her
that a provincial banker could refuse an alliance with a creature so
peerless as that. But so it was; and despite her habitual
self-government, Mrs. Dodd's white hand clenched the note till her nails
dented it; and she reddened to the brow with anger and mortification.
Julia, whom she had trained never to monopolise attention in society, now
left the piano in spite of remonstrance, and soon noticed her mother's
face; for from red it had become paler than usual. "Are you unwell,
dear?" said she _sotto voce._
"No, love."
"Is there anything the matter, then?"
"Hush! We have guests: our first duty is to them." With this Mrs. Dodd
rose, and, endeavouring not to look at her daughter at all, went round
and drew each of her guests out in turn. It was the very heroism of
courtesy; for their presence was torture to her.
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