Clorinda, who moved forward with a stately, swimming gait, her fine head
in the air. As she stepped into the porch a young gentleman drew back
and made a profound obeisance to her. She cast her eyes upon him and
returned it with a grace and condescension which struck the beholders
dumb with admiring awe. To some of the people of a commoner sort he was
a stranger, but all connected with the gentry knew he was Sir John Oxon,
who was staying at Eldershawe Park with his relative, whose estate it
was.

How Mistress Clorinda contrived to manage it no one was aware but
herself, but after a few appearances at church she appeared at other
places. She was seen at dinners at fine houses, and began to be seen at
routs and balls. Where she was seen she shone, and with such radiance as
caused matchmaking matrons great dismay, and their daughters woeful
qualms. Once having shone, she could not be extinguished or hidden under
a bushel; for, being of rank and highly connected through mother as well
as father, and playing her cards with great wit and skill, she could not
be thrust aside.

At her first hunt ball she set aflame every male breast in the shire,
unmasking such a battery of charms as no man could withstand the fire of.
Her dazzling eye, her wondrous shape, the rich music of her laugh, and
the mocking wit of her sharp saucy tongue were weapons to have armed a
dozen women, and she was but one, and in the first rich tempting glow of
blooming youth.

She turned more heads and caused more quarrels than she could have
counted had she sat up half the night. She went to her coach with her
father followed by a dozen gallants, each ready to spit the other for a
smile. Her smiles were wondrous, but there seemed always a touch of