In answer, she sent a very affectionate consoling
letter, begging Lily to think no more of the matter; and though she
had too much regard for truth to say that she had not been grieved by
the loss of Emma's writing, she added that Lily's distress gave her
far more pain, and that her copy would have great value in her eyes.
The beginning of June now arrived, and brought with it the time for
the return of Claude and Lord Rotherwood.
The Marquis's carriage met him at Raynham, and he set down Claude at
New Court, on his way to Hetherington, just coming in to exchange a
hurried greeting with the young ladies.
Their attention was principally taken up by their brother.
'Claude, how well you look! How fat you are!' was their exclamation.
'Is not he?' said Lord Rotherwood. 'I am quite proud of him. Not
one headache since he went. He will have no excuse for not dancing
the polka.'
'I do not return the compliment to you, Lily,' said Claude, looking
anxiously at his sister. 'What is the matter with you? Have you
been ill?'
'Oh, no! not at all!' said Lily, smiling.
'I am sure there is enough to make any one ill,' said Emily, in her
deplorable tone; 'I thought this poor parish had had its share of
illness, with the scarlet fever, and now it has turned to a horrible
typhus fever.
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