I think. There, he
is now standing up, with that pretty little creature in white with the
golden ringlets."

"Oh," said Claudia, following his glance. "That 'pretty little creature'
is my cousin, Miss Middleton."

"I beg ten thousand pardons," said Vincent.

"And her partner," continued Claudia, "is Mr. Worth, a very promising
young--" She could not say gentleman; she would not say man; so she
hesitated a little while, and then said: "He is a very talented young
law student with my papa."

"Ah! do you know that at first I really took him for an old friend of
mine, an American gentleman from--Maryland, I believe."

"Mr. Worth is from Maryland," said Claudia.

"Then he is probably a relative of the gentleman in question. The
likeness is so very striking; indeed, if it were not that Mr.--Worth,
did you say his name was?--is a rather larger man, I should take him to
be Mr. Brudenell. I wonder whether they are related?"

"I do not know," said Claudia. And of course she did not know; but
notwithstanding that, the hot blood rushed up to her face, flushing it
with a deep blush, for she remembered the fatal words that had forever
affected Ishmael in her estimation.

"His mother was never married, and no one on earth knows who his father
was."

The viscount looked at her; he was a man accustomed to read much in
little; but not always aright; he read a great deal in Claudia's deep
blush and short reply; but not the whole; he read that Claudia Merlin,
the rich heiress, loved her father's poor young law student; but no
more; and he resolved to make the acquaintance of the young fellow, who
must be related to the Brudenells, he thought, so as to see for himself
what there was in him, beside his handsome person, to attract the
admiration of Chief Justice Merlin's beautiful daughter.

"He dances well; he carries himself like my friend Herman, also. I fancy
they must be nearly related," he continued, as he watched Ishmael going
through the quadrille.

"I am unable to inform you whether he is or not," answered Claudia.

While they talked, the dance went on. Presently it was ended.

"You must come up, now, and speak to Claudia. She is the queen of the
evening, you know!" said Ishmael's gentle partner.

"I know it, dear Bee; and I am going to pay my respects; but let me find
you a seat first," replied the young man.

"No, I will go with you; I have not yet spoken to Claudia this evening,"
said Bee.

Ishmael offered hi