With blushing modesty she received the eagerly-offered congratulations of her affectionate family; the delighted embrace which Percy in the enthusiasm of his joy found himself compelled to give her.
"Now, indeed, may I hope the past will never again cross my mind to torment me," he whispered to his sister, and wrung St.Eval's hand with a violence that forced that young man laughingly to cry for mercy.

There had been a shade of unusual gloom shrouding the open countenance and usually frank demeanour of Percy since his return from Oxford, for which his parents and sisters could not account, but as he seemed to shrink from all observation on the subject, they did not ask the cause; but this unexpected happiness seemed to make him for a few following days as usual the gayest, merriest member of his amiable family.
Often in these days of happiness did Caroline think on the qualities which Lady Gertrude had once said should adorn the wife of her brother.
Faults he could pardon, if they were redeemed by affection, and ingenuousness unsullied by the slightest artifice.

Affection she well knew she possessed; but she also knew that, to be as unreserved as would form the happiness of her husband, she must effectually banish that pride, which she knew still lurked within.

Often would she converse on these things when alone with her mother, and implore her advice as to the best method of securing not only the love but the esteem of St.
Eval.

"Gertrude was quite right in the estimate of her brother's character," Mrs.Hamilton would at such times observe, her fond heart fully repaid for past anxiety and disappointment by this confidence in her child; "and so too are you, dearest, in your idea that not the faintest sign of pride must mark your intercourse with him.