did not consider him worthy of a woman like Margaret, he
thought him weak and impulsive and without ballast; but Margaret had
lost her heart to her handsome young lover, and could see no fault in
him, and for a time all went smoothly; but I am anticipating a little.

"The event that stands prominently in my recollection was a ball that
was to be given in honor of young Egerton Trelawney, the eldest son of
a wealthy merchant living at Pierrepoint. Margaret was going, and of
course Hugh Redmond would be there, but they were not engaged then.
Margaret had induced Raby to let me accompany her, for I was nearly
seventeen then, and very womanly for my age. He consented rather
reluctantly, I thought, and the subject dropped. Another time I should
have tried to extort a more gracious permission, for my heart was set
on the ball; but for some time I had noticed a slight change in Raby's
manner to me, an imperceptible reserve that made me a little less at
my ease with him; it was not that he failed in kindness, for he had
never been so good to me, but there was certainly a slight barrier
between us. He ceased to treat me as a child, there was something
deferential in his tenderness; his eyes had a keen, watchful look in
them as they rested on me that perplexed me.

"I was beginning not to understand Raby at all; either he was not
quite happy, or I had disappointed him in some way; and yet, though I
longed to question him, an unusual shyness held me back.

"It was the evening before the ball, and Raby was in the library so
absorbed in his Hebrew manuscript that for once he had not missed me
from my accustomed place.

"The new ball dress Margaret had ordered had ordered for me in London
had just arrived, and she had coaxed me to put down my book and try it
on in case any alterations should be required. I had never seen any
gown I liked better; the rich, creamy tint just set off my olive
complexion and coils of black hair to perfection. I was quite startled
when I saw myself in the long pier glass; my neck and arms were
gleaming through the dainty, cobwebby lace, a ruby pendant sparkled
like a crimson star at my throat. Margaret was enchanted.

"'Oh, Crystal,' she exclaimed, 'how beautiful you look, just like an
Esther or Vashti with their grand Oriental faces. Come down with me
and let us startle Raby from his dusty old folios; he will think he
sees a vision.'

"I followed her smiling; I was pleased that Raby should see me i