The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-17

ready to start OF tor Italy at the
slightest appearance of change for
the worse, for the dear girl, she feared
was consumptiye, and of such a ner-
vous finely wrought nature, that she
required the most tender care.
For my own part [ could not dis
cover anything particularly delicate
in the round face and rather too
plump figure of the young lady; so /
ventured to suggest that she should
be very likely to outgrow the dreaded
symptoms, and that even now could
not pay her the bad compliment to
say she looked I'LL o44H
Mrs Primrose thanked me for my
sympathy, with her handkerchief
raised ito her Aeyes, and added that
dear Livy's complexion was SO bril-
liant that it deceived many people.
She then pointed out Captain Yer
non, and in ALOUD whisper, which /
felt sure he heard, informed me that
he was the younger son of. "a noble
family, but had the advantage over
most younger sons, of inheriting a
country estate and fine fortune from
his mother; and having seen plenty
of active service, he. had now, retired
on his laurels, and she thought would
take wife and settle down to- a quiet
home life. She said this so signifi-
cantly, that | could only conclude
that her daughter was his choice; and
vet, as Hooked at him, Icould scarce
lyEthink such aman would choose such
aewoman. He was apparently about
forty, and though not positively hand
somey there was something noble and
aristocratic in his face, and soldier
like and - commanding in his
tall, fine figure. The expression
of his clear blue eyes was frank and
open, and the lines of his mouth firm
and decided with a touch of satire.
He was polite end attentive to all the
ladies, and if rather more so to La
yipia than to the rest. it was apparent
ly because she drew it forth AT dim
ner, had an opportunity of observ-
ing the rest of the company There
were two sisters, Miss White and Miss
Bella White; the elder noisy. rather
vulgar womans who made fun of every
one in a good-tempered sort of way,
and laughed long and loudly at her
own jokes, which sometimes went
home too severely to be enjoyed by
those against whom they were direct
ed; the younger sister was quieter,
and pretended to be shocked at
I" Fans" outbursts; but she was more
Objectionable with her affectation and
over attempts to be a lady than the
other with her noise and coarseness.
There Was a quiet old lady who did
not talk much, and took everything
Nh -s-I,s IL
A thin, tall. elderly city gentleman
took the bottom of the table; he wore
a rusty black tail-coat,aa stiff, white
neck cloth, and high shirt-collars; his
manner was grave and impressive, and
he dignifed every lady with the APP
peIlation oas Num- and tried tossbe
particularly civil to the eldest Miss
White. There was also stoutstock-
broker, who wore a short .cut-away
coat and colored neck-tie. with a
red b4etehy face~an straight brown
hair, whoS never looked off his plate
Except to address Miss Bella White),
and kept one in a, state of alarm lest
heshould have fit of apopIexy.i ~
Remarks, upon the fareat table were
pretty freely made on all sides, and, I
was surprised to find how cody our
hostess listened to them (they would
have been. in such a different strain
had9 the 'eompanyfI 'beenb visitors
instead Of boarders y. Mrs. Stacey
complained of everything, and kept
enumerating the things she was sure
must begin season and quite reas-
enable" and wondering, that Mrs.
Wilson did not see about them; still.
she managed to makesa very good
dinner, and partook of every dish
with the air of martyr aol sa5 ia'Il@s
The fair ,Lavinia' S appetite was such
as might be expected from the delicate
creature her mother had described
her to be- but as | afterwards
found that = she . made an early
tea in, . her OWN room at five
o o'clock. was no longer surprised
BIT she seemed to think athat her
neighbof,Tthe7 Captain. ought not
to be hungry either. for she piled him
continually with questions, and allow
ed, him littleitime ior eating. ,ssoH
After he had returned to the draw
ing-room, the eldest Miss White sat by
me and entered into conversation, and
kept me on what is called : sthorns,s
by the remarks she made aboutIevery
one In her loud key. She, Informed
me that Captain Vernon had been to
Mrs. Wilson's four years running
and that Laviniar Primrose and her
mother were trying hard to catch him,
as he was worth having; that twas
allavery fine of Mrs. Primrose toSape
the grand lady now, but that She could
remember the time not very far back
either, when Mrs. Primrose had kept
the 7" Green Dragon" in Cheapside,
and that Lavinia's fortune was not