Rare gems, vessels of gold, and vessels of
silver, the gifts of princes, sparkled on altars of perfect
workmanship, while beauteous flowers raised their heads from priceless
vases, trying in vain, with their sweet odour to drown the fumes of
incense, wafted from the censor in the hands of the acolytes.
High mass being concluded, Lady Esmondet, with Vaura, slowly emerged
from the sacred edifice. O'Gormon and a young Italian attached to the
Quirinal having waited for them at the door, conducted them to their
landau, when with warm Christmas greetings they parted to meat for
lunch with the Duchess of Wyesdale. On reaching their destination they
found their slender waisted hostess, with her daughter, the Lady
Eveline Northingdon, with a few English and Italian notabilities,
assembled in the _salons_. The Duchess looked blank on seeing that
Capt. Trevalyon was not in attendance; for to tell the truth, she had
only invited Lady Esmondet and Miss Vernon because she could not very
well bid Trevalyon to lunch and ignore his hostess.
For though he had only given her a few careless flatteries, they were
her food; still he had looked into her eyes and smiled.
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