This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 edition. Excerpt: ... dine the greater claim they have to fashionable rank, we are bidding fair to reach ten and even eleven oclock at night. Of course, when we eat our dinners twelve hours later than our ancestors, no one will doubt our superiority over them. \"Dont you think it will only be a familyparty?\" suggested Flora, rather comforting herself with the supposition, as they drove up the avenue to the Hall. \"I would not mind betting a shilling there will not be less than twenty at dinner. They never give friendly parties,\" said Mrs. Trevennon, who had had some difficulty in persuading Flora to appear full dressed. \"Well, dont look so intensely anxious, Flo, as if you were afraid they would eat you instead of the prize Cochin China fowls, I fully expect to see on the table,\" said Mr. Trevennon, laughing as they stopped at the grand entrance, from which another carriage was just driving away. One footman met them at the door, and another announced their names with the correctness of servants in general. How Floras heart fluttered, how infinitely insignificant she felt as her feet, for the first time, trod the floor of the house where her father and grandfather had dwelt, and which would then have been hers, hut for the villany of that very aristocratic, haughty old gentleman, who so condescendingly advanced to receive her. She experienced none of those mysterious sensations heroines are generally supposed to feel when coming unexpectedly and unknowingly in contact with persons and things intimately connected with their destiny, as she entered the magnificent drawing-room at Armitage, and heard the subdued murmur of a dozen voices. There can be no such thing as instinctive presentiment, else Mr. Croftons hand would have trembled as he offered it to one...