elt that I liked Cousin Latimer
better than any one in the world; but there were two things I liked
even better than Cousin Latimer: these were power and admiration. Of
the former I never could obtain as much as I coveted; of the latter I
determined to take my fill. We were that night to have a grand ball in
the house, and were much occupied with decorating the rooms, and other
preparations, such as we girls delighted in. I put off Latimer with
half-promises and vague assurances, which sent him away more in love
with me than ever. I was to dance the first quadrille with him. It was
an engagement of at least a month's standing, and he had rather
wearied me by too often reminding me of it.

"There was a regiment of hussars quartered in our neighbourhood, and
we were well acquainted with most of the officers. The more so, as one
of my sisters was engaged to be married to the major, who, by the way,
ran away from her a year afterwards. One of these officers, a captain
in the regiment, was an especial flirt of mine; he was a good-looking,
agreeable man, and a beautiful waltzer. I recollect the night as well
as if it was yesterday--the officers arriving in their uniforms; my
father standing behind us, proclaiming aloud his pride in his six
handsome daughters; Cousin Latimer claiming my hand for the first
dance, and my refusal, notwithstanding my long promise, on the plea
that I was engaged to Captain Normanton. Poor boy! I can see his
pained, eager face now. 'You do what you like with me,' he said; 'but
you _must_ dance the next.' I laughed and promised.

"Captain Normanton was very agreeable; he was the most dashing-looking
man in the room, and I liked the vanity of parading him about in his
uniform, and showing my sisters and others the power I had over Cousin
Latimer. Once more the latter claimed my promise, and once more I
threw him over. I glanced triumphantly at him as he watched me from a
corner; and the more he gazed, the more _I acted at him_, as if I was
making violent love to my partner. Somehow, without looking, I saw
every shade of Latimer's countenance. Once or twice I had compassion,
but there was the excitement of vanity and novelty to lure me on.

"For the first time in my life I knew how much it was possible for men
to care for us, and I could not resist torturing my victim to the
utmost. Fool that I was! Cousin Latimer came up to me once more.
Though annoyed and hurt, he mustered a good-humoured smile as