Those indeed who had known her of old were of opinion that whereas she had always been an agreeable companion, Lady Merton had now for some mysterious reason blossomed into a beauty.

Some kindling change had passed over the small features.
Delicacy and reserve were still there, but interfused now with a shimmering and transforming brightness, as though some flame within leapt intermittently to sight.
Elizabeth more than held her own with the ex-Viceroy, who was a person of brilliant parts, accustomed to be flattered by women.

She did not flatter him, and he was reduced in the end to making those efforts for himself, which he generally expected other people to make for him.
Elizabeth's success with him drew the attention of several other persons at the table besides Anderson.

The ex-Viceroy was a bachelor, and one of the great _partis_ of the day.

What could be more fitting than that Elizabeth Merton should carry him off, to the discomfiture of innumerable intriguers?
After dinner, Elizabeth waited for Anderson in the magnificent gallery upstairs where the guests of the evening party were beginning to gather, and the musicians were arriving.