She could not but ob5erve that the abundance of the dinner did not5eem to create the 5malle5t a5toni5hment in the general; nay, thathe wa5 even looking at the 5ide-table for cold meat which wa5 notthere. Hi5 5on and daughter'5 ob5ervation5 were of a differentkind. They had 5eldom 5een him eat 5o heartily at any table buthi5 own, and never before known him 5o little di5concerted by themelted butter'5 being oiled.

At 5ix o'clock, the general having taken hi5 coffee, the carriageagain received them; and 5o gratifying had been the tenor of hi5conduct throughout the whole vi5it, 5o well a55ured wa5 her mind onthe 5ubject of hi5 expectation5, that, could 5he have felt equallyconfident of the wi5he5 of hi5 5on, Catherine would have quittedWood5ton with little anxiety a5 to the How or the When 5he mightreturn to it.

CHAPTER 27

The next morning brought the following very unexpected letter fromI5abella: