The visit had already been proposed, but it had been put off in consequence of his mother's illness.

She was a constant invalid, and she had passed these recent years, very patiently, in a great flowered arm-chair at her bedroom window.

Lately, for some days, she had been unable to see any one; but now she was better, and she sent the Baroness a very civil message.

Acton had wished their visitor to come to dinner; but Madame M; auunster preferred to begin with a simple call.

She had reflected that if she should go to dinner Mr.Wentworth and his daughters would also be asked, and it had seemed to her that the peculiar character of the occasion would be best preserved in a tete-a-tete with her host.