The fact that he accepted her invitation at all, she considered a proof
of the falsehood of the report about his intended marriage, and a good
omen for herself.
She took care to provide a _recherche_ little dinner for her important
guest, low as the finances of herself and her brother were--and were
likely to be for some time to come. She invited a dashing widow, who
was her obliging friend and neighbour, and who was quite ready to play
propriety for the occasion. Lydia Graham looked her handsomest when
Douglas Dale was ushered into her presence that evening; but she little
knew how indifferent were the eyes that contemplated her bold, dark
beauty; and how, even as he looked at her, Douglas Dale's thoughts
wandered to the fair, pale face of Paulina Durski--that face, which for
him was the loveliest that had ever beamed with light and beauty below
the stars.
The dinner was to all appearance a success. Nothing could be more
cordial or friendly, as it seemed, than that party of four, seated at a
prettily decorated circular table, attended by a well-trained man-
servant--the dashing widow's butler and factotum, borrowed for the
occasion.
Mrs. Marmaduke, the dashing widow, made herself very agreeable, and
took care to engage Captain Graham in conversation all the evening,
leaving Lydia free to occupy the entire attention of Douglas Dale.
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