"Truly she is," said Betty, "and though in full maturity, she preserves
the splendour of her prime."

"Tell us more particularly," said Aurelia; "can she be more lovely
than our dear mamma?"

"No, indeed! lovely was never the word for her, to my mind," said
Betty; "her face always seemed to me more like that of one of the
marble statues I remember at Vienna; perfect, but clear, cold, and
hard. But I am no judge, for I did not love her, and in a child,
admiration accompanies affection."

"What did Palmer mean by 'handsome is that handsome does'? Surely
my father never was ill-treated by Lady Belamour?"

"Let me explain," said the elder sister. "The ancient custom and
precedent of our family have always transmitted the estates to the
male heir. But when Charles II. granted the patent of nobility to
the first Baron Delavie, the barony was limited to the heirs male
of his body, and out grandfather was only his brother. The last
Lord had three sons, and one daughter, Urania, who alone survived
him."

"I know all that from the monument," said Aurelia; "one was drowned
while bathing, one died of spotted fever, and one was killed at the
battle of Ramillies. How dreadful for the poor old father!"

"And there is no Lord Delavie now," said Harriet. "Why, since my Lady
could not have the title, did it not come to our papa?"