ddenly exclaimed--

'I quite forgot to tell you that Charles Oakley has written to say he is
coming on Wednesday. I really don't want him. Poor Charlie! I wonder how
they manage those doctors' certificates. I know nothing ails him, and he'd
be much better with his regiment.'

Wednesday!--how odd. Exactly the day after my departure. I tried to look
perfectly unconcerned. Lady Knollys had addressed herself more to Lady
Mary and Milly than to me, and nobody in particular was looking at me.
Notwithstanding, with my usual perversity, I felt myself blushing with a
brilliancy that may have been very becoming, but which was so intolerably
provoking that I would have risen and left the room but that matters would
have been so infinitely worse. I could have boxed my odious ears. I could
almost have jumped from the window.

I felt that Lord Ilbury saw it. I saw Lady Mary's eyes for a moment resting
gravely on my tell-tale--my lying cheeks--for I really had begun to think
much less celestially of Captain Oakley. I was angry with Cousin Monica,
who, knowing my blushing infirmity, had mentioned her nephew so suddenly
while I was strapped by etiquette in my chair, with my face to the window,
and two pair of most disconcerting eyes, at least, opposite. I was angry
with myself--generally angry--refused more tea rather dryly, and was
laconic to Lord Ilbury, all which, of course, was very cross and foolish;
and afterwards, from my bed-room window, I saw Cousin Monica and Lady
Mary among the flowers, under the drawing-room window, talking, as I
instinctively knew, of that little incident. I was standing at the glass.

'My odious, stupid, _perjured_ face' I whispered, furiously, at the same
time stamping on the floor, and giving myself quite a smart slap on the
cheek. 'I _can't_ go down--I'm ready to cry--I've a mind to return to
Bartram to-day; I am _always_ blushing; and I wish that impudent Captain
Oakley was at the bottom of the sea.'

I was, perhaps, thinking more of Lord Ilbury than I was aware; and I am
sure if Captain Oakley had arrived that day, I should have treated him with
most unjustifiable rudeness.

Notwithstanding this unfortunate blush, the remainder of our visit passed
very happily for me. No one who has not experienced it can have an idea
how intimate a small party, such as ours, will grow in a short time in a
country house.

Of course, a young lady of a well-regulated mind cannot possibly care a
pin about any one