text:  At the General's housewarming though not previously introduced into society Mary was the queen of the ball; and all present agreed that one of the most pleasing circumstances of the evening was to watch the animated cordiality with which she flew from one to the other of those old neighbours of Stanley Manor (whom she alone had managed to persuade that a dozen miles was no distance to prevent their accepting her father's invitation;) and not the most brilliant of her young friends received a more eager welcome or more sustained attention throughout the evening than the few homely elderly people (such as my friends the Whittinghams ) who happened to share the hospitality of General Stanley