three o'clock before
Clara needs the society of Emily just now . '' `` Certainly , '' said Grace , mildly ; `` I hope no useless ceremony on the part of Emily would prevent her manifesting natural attachment to her sister - - I should feel hurt at her not entertaining a better opinion of us than to suppose so for a moment . '' `` This , young ladies , is the real feeling to keep alive esteem , '' cried the doctor , gaily : `` go on , and say and do nothing of which either can disapprove , when tried by the standard of duty , and you need never be afraid of losing a friend that is worth keeping . '' It was three o'clock before the carriage of Mrs. Wilson arrived at the rectory ; and the time stole away insensibly in free and friendly communications . Denbigh had joined modestly , and with the degree of interest a stranger might be supposed to feel , in the occurrences of a circle to which he was nearly a stranger ; there was at times a slight display of awkwardness , however , about both him and Mrs. Ives , for which Mrs. Wilson easily accounted by recollections of his recent loss and the scene they had all witnessed in that very room . This embarrassment escaped the notice of the rest of the party . On the arrival of the carriage , Mrs. Wilson took her leave .