The next day at dinner Stanton and Raymond took their seats at Mrs.
Crane's table. To Raymond's great delight Mrs. Carrington sat opposite
him. Stanton occupied Dr. Lacey's seat, which brought Fanny directly in
front of him. Fanny had been prepared in a measure for the striking
resemblance between Stanton and Dr. Lacey; but when she was introduced to
him, his looks brought Dr. Lacey so forcibly before her that she instantly
grew pale and half wished to leave the room. But a look from Mrs. Miller
reassured her, and she took her accustomed place at the table.
Ere dinner was over she had forgotten for the time her lover's neglect,
and was in the midst of an animated conversation with Stanton, who was
much pleased with his cousin's choice. Stanton's looks and manners were so
much like Dr. Lacey's that Fanny felt herself irresistibly drawn toward
him and her face assumed a brighter aspect than it had worn for many days.
Julia watched her closely and felt that nothing could please her better
than a flirtation between Stanton and her sister.
But such was not a part of Fanny's intentions. She liked Stanton because
he was agreeable, intelligent and Dr. Lacey's cousin; but she would sooner
have parted with her right hand than have done anything inconsistent with
her engagement with Dr. Lacey. On the other hand, Stanton's heart was too
strongly fortified with Nellie's charms to admit of an entrance to the
gentle Fanny. But he admired her very much, and seemed to think that she
had some claim upon him in the absence of his cousin.
Thus, as days went on, his polite attentions toward Fanny increased, and
Julia resolved to make this fact work for the accomplishment of her
designs.