recant my opinion,
or, what is the same thing, do as the others do; and I shall expect you
to do the same, Mr. Beauchamp, and not, after the manner of some
shameless London men whom we have had here, plead a bad cold, and then
spend the evening tranquilly in the smoking-room, over much tobacco and
a French novel."

"Not I, Miss Bloxam," replied Lionel, laughing. "I can assure you I am
very fond of a country ball. My objection is to a country ball with
all the attraction left out."

"Thank you," said Blanche, making him a little mock curtsey, "that is a
very pretty speech to send me to sleep upon; and now good night. O
Jim, Jim!" she whispered, as she passed her brother, "how could you?
Had you been yet in your childhood, bread and water and dungeons dark
would be punishment quite inadequate to your offending."

"Why, good Heavens! what have I done?"

"Couldn't you see that mamma is dead against any of us going to this
ball, and have you not been canvassing us all as if you had been a
steward?"

"Go to bed, you arrant little humbug," replied Jim, with a perceptible
quiver of his right eye. "What the _madre's_ reasons may be for
setting her face against this bit of jollity I don't know; but you and
she needn't go, you know. Mrs. Sartoris has kindly undertaken the
charge of all us young people."

Blanche merely smiled, nodded, and then tripped up the staircase. I
think there was an unspoken understanding between these two on the
subject of the Commonstone ball. Jim Bloxam had before known his
sisters take part with the authorities against their private likings
and convictions.

Lady Mary, when she had gained the privacy of her own chamber, felt, to
speak figuratively, that the horses had got a little out of her hand;
that her party, or at all events the larger portion of them, would
attend this ball whether she liked it or not. Of course she herself
could stay at home and keep Blanche with her; but it would be a little
too marked to attempt to retain Mr. Beauchamp when all the rest of the
party were bound for Commonstone. She was far too skilful a manoeuvrer
to give lookers-on such transparent grounds for designating her a
match-making mother. But Lady Mary was a woman both clever and fertile
in resource, one who thoroughly understood the philosophy that, when
things are not going to your liking, there only remains to make the
best of things as they are. Her instinct warned her that it would have
been