Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away. Mrs. Palmerhad her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of thefriends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements,and wondered hong kong hospitality & tourism academy whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get fartherthan Reading that night. Elinor, however little concerned in it,joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of findingher way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided bythe family in general, soon procured herself a book.

Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendlygood humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome. Theopenness and heartiness of university course her manner more than atoned for that want ofrecollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the formsof politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, though evident was not disgusting, because it wasnot conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.

The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, affordinga pleasant enlargement Business School of the party, and a very welcome variety totheir conversation, which a long morning of the same continued rain hadreduced very low.

Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen somuch variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she knewnot what to expect to find him in his own family. She found him,however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found himvery capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented frombeing so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as muchsuperior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.Jennings and Charlotte.

For the rest of his character and habits, theywere marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at allunusual in his sex and time of life.