greater share of attention. She and Elizabeth had once seen each
other, and for the last year or two had corresponded, but personally
they had never been intimate. Unfortunately for the latter, that
story of Godfrey's offer and acceptance had been communicated to
Isabella, as had of course the immediately subsequent story of their
separation. But now it would be almost impossible to avoid the
subject in conversation. "Dearest Isabella, let it be as though it
had never been," she had said in one of her letters. But sometimes
it is very difficult to let things be as though they had never been.

The first evening passed over very well. The two Coverdale girls
were there, and there had been much talking and merry laughter,
rather juvenile in its nature, but on the whole none the worse for
that. Isabella Holmes was a fine, tall, handsome girl; good-
humoured, and well disposed to be pleased; rather Frenchified in her
manners, and quite able to take care of herself. But she was not
above round games, and did not turn up her nose at the boys.
Godfrey behaved himself excellently, talking much to the Major, but
by no means avoiding Miss Garrow. Mrs. Garrow, though she had known
him since he was a boy, had taken an aversion to him since he had
quarrelled with her daughter; but there was no room on this first
night for showing such aversion, and everything went off well.

"Godfrey is very much improved," the Major said to his wife that
night.

"Do you think so?"

"Indeed I do. He has filled out and become a fine man."