Chapter 15

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​⁠There is a festival where knights and dames,

And aught that wealth or lofty lineage claims,

Appear.

'T is he,—how came he thence?

What doth he here?

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​⁠Lara.

There are two charming situations in life for a woman,—one, the first freshness of heiressship and beauty; the other, youthful widowhood, with a large jointure. It was at least Lucy's fortune to enjoy the first. No sooner was she fairly launched into