If there were contamination, why should Augusta be contaminated?
Poor Augusta! She had looked forward to the delight of embracing her future sister-in-law;--and would not have enjoyed it the less, perhaps, because she had been told that the lady was false, profligate, and a vixen.

As, however, her position was that of a girl, she was bound to be obedient,--though over thirty years old,--and she obeyed.
Lizzie was of course at home, and Miss Macnulty was of course visiting the Horticultural Gardens or otherwise engaged.

On such an occasion Lizzie would certainly be alone.

She had taken great pains with her dress, studying not so much her own appearance as the character of her visitor.

She was very anxious, at any rate for the present, to win golden opinions from Lady Fawn.