"I'm sure it will give us--infinite pleasure," said Lady Jane; though
rather in a grave way.

"Oh, that it will!" says Lady Fanny, clapping her hands: "won't it,
Grandmamma? And after we have been in the Park, we can walk in
Kensington Gardens, if Mr. Titmarsh will be good enough to accompany us."

"Indeed, Fanny, we will do no such thing," says Lady Jane.

"Indeed, but we will though!" shrieked out Lady Drum. "Ain't I dying to
know everything about his uncle and thirteen aunts? and you're all
chattering so, you young women, that not a blessed syllable will you
allow me or my young friend here to speak."

Lady Jane gave a shrug with her shoulders, and did not say a single word
more. Lady Fanny, who was as gay as a young kitten (if I may be allowed
so to speak of the aristocracy), laughed, and blushed, and giggled, and
seemed quite to enjoy her sister's ill-humour. And the Countess began at
once, and entered into the history of the thirteen Misses Hoggarty, which
was not near finished when we entered the Park.

When there, you can't think what hundreds of gents on horseback came to
the carriage and talked to the ladies. They had their joke for Lady
Drum, who seemed to be a character in her way; their bow for Lady Jane;
and, the young ones especially, their compliment for Lady Fanny.

Though she bowed and blushed, as a young lady should, Lady Fanny seemed
to be thinking of something else; for she kept her head out of the
carriage, looking eagerly among the horsemen, as if she expected to see