al, Lord and Lady Eden, Mr.
and Mrs. Philip Raymond, Mr. Maurice and Miss Lois Wynyard, Mrs. Lefevre
and Miss Jean Lefevre, Mr. and Mrs. Chiverton, Colonel Stokes and his
wife, and Sir Edward Lucas with an architectural scheme in his pocket;
however, he danced none the worse for it, as Miss Fairfax testified by
dancing with him three times. She had a charming audacity in evading
awkward partners, and it was observed that she waltzed only with the new
member. She looked in joyous spirits, and acknowledged no reason why she
should deny herself a pleasure. More than once in the course of the
evening she flattered Lady Angleby's hopes by telling her it was a most
delicious ball.

Mr. Fairfax contemplated his granddaughter with serene speculation. Lady
Angleby had communicated to him the results of Mrs. Betts's inquisition.
At a disengaged moment he noticed a wondering pathos in Bessie's eyes,
which were following Mr. Cecil Burleigh's agile movements through the
intricate mazes of the Lancers' Quadrilles. His prolonged gaze ended by
attracting hers; she blushed and drew a long breath, and seemed to shake
off some persistent thought. Then she came and asked, like a
light-footed, mocking, merry girl, if he was not longing to dance too,
and would he not dance with her? He dismissed her to pay a little
attention to Mrs. Chiverton, who sat like a fine statue against the
wall, unsought of partners, and Bessie went with cheerful submission.
Her former school-rival was kind to her now with a patronizing, married
superiority that she did not dislike. Mrs. Chiverton knew from her
husband of the family project for Miss Fairfax's settlement in life, and
as she approved of Mr. Cecil Burleigh as highly as her allegiance to Mr.
Chiverton permitted her to approve of anybody but himself, she spoke at
some length in his praise, desiring to be agreeable. Bessie suffered her
to go on without check or discouragement; she must have understood the
drift of many things this evening which had puzzled her hitherto, but
she made no sign. Miss Burleigh said to her brother when they parted
for the night that she really did not know what to think or what to
advise, further than that Sir Edward Lucas ought to be "set down," or
there was no guessing how far he might be tempted to encroach. Miss
Fairfax, she considered, was too universally inclined to please.

Mr. Cecil Burleigh had no clear resolve of what he would do when he went
to walk in the garden th