Besides, I know I was
very self-willed, and unkind to Helen; I have set you a very bad
example, Dora, and I believe I ought to beg your pardon for it.
Good-night, my dear!'
Was Elizabeth lowered in her sister's eyes by humbling herself?
Just as the girls were arranging themselves in the drawing-room for
the evening, a loud knocking was heard at the front-door, and Harriet
and Anne both sprang up--the one exclaiming, 'Someone has brought
Fido back!'--the other, 'Can that be Rupert?'
The last supposition was proved to be right; and in another moment
Rupert Merton was receiving the affectionate greetings of his sister
and cousins. Elizabeth felt some embarrassment in performing a
regular introduction of Mr. Merton to the Miss Hazlebys; but Rupert's
easy well-bred manners rendered the formidable ceremony much easier
than she had expected, and the cousins soon fell into their usual
style of conversation.
'Well, Mr. Rupert,' said Elizabeth, 'better late than never; that is
all that can be said for you!'
'Am I late?' said Rupert; 'I hope no one has waited for me.
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