his affections.

"Let her be as persistent as she may, it is not possible for any woman
to resist the laws and beliefs of Society. What can she do against all
the world? She can't escape from the conditions of her epoch. Oh! she
may talk boldly now, for she does not understand; she is a mere infant
as regards knowledge of the world, but once a wife----"

Henriette smiled and shook her head, by way of finish to her sentence.
Hubert mused silently for some minutes.

"I could not endure that there should be any disturbance--any
eccentricity--in our life----"

"My dear boy, if you don't trust to the teaching of experience to cure
Hadria of these fantastic notions, rely upon the resistless persuasions
of our social facts and laws. Nothing can stand against them--certainly
not the fretful heresies of an inexperienced girl, who, remember, is
really good and kind at heart."

"Ah! yes," cried Hubert; "a fine nature, full of good instincts, and
womanly to her finger-tips."

"Oh! if she were not that, _I_ would never encourage you to think of
her," cried Henriette with a shudder. "It is on this essential goodness
of heart that I rely. She would never be able, try as she might, to act
in a manner that would really distress those who were dear to her. You
may count upon that securely."

"Yes; I am sure of it," said Hubert, "but unluckily" (he shook his head
and sighed) "I am not among those who are dear to her."

He rose abruptly, and Henriette followed him.

"Try to win her to-night," she murmured, "and be sure to express no
opposition to her ideas, however wild they may be. Ignore them, humour
her, plead your cause once more on this auspicious day--the last of the
old year. Something tells me that the new year will begin joyously for
you. Go now, and good luck to you."

"Ah! here you are," cried Mr. Fullerton, "we were wondering what had
become of you. You said you wished to see a reel. Mrs. McPherson is so
good as to play for us."

The kindly old Scottish dame had come, with two nieces, from a distance
of ten miles.

A thrill ran through the company when the strange old tune began.
Everyone rushed for a partner, and two long rows of figures stood facing
one another, eager to start. Temperley asked Hadria to dance with him.
Algitha had Harold Wilkins for a partner. The two long rows were soon
stepping and twirling with zest and agility. A new and wilder spirit
began to possess the whole party. The northern blood to