y she
was becoming intimate with him.

"How very nicely your house does for a dance," said Mrs. Cornbury to
Mrs. Tappitt.

"Oh dear,--I don't think so. Our rooms are so small. But it's very
kind of you to say so. Indeed, I never can be sufficiently obliged--"

"By-the-by," said Mrs. Cornbury, "what a nice girl Rachel Ray has
grown."

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Tappitt.

"And dances so well! I'd no idea of it. The young men seem rather
taken with her. Don't you think so?"

"I declare I think they are. I always fancy that is rather a
misfortune to a young girl,--particularly when it must mean nothing,
as of course it can't with poor Rachel."

"I don't see that at all."

"Her mother, you know, Mrs. Cornbury;--they are not in the way of
seeing any company. It was so kind of you to bring her here, and
really she does look very nice. My girls are very good-natured to
her. I only hope her head won't be turned. Here's Mr. Tappitt. You
must go down Mrs. Cornbury, and eat a little bit of supper." Then Mr.
Tappitt in his blue waistcoat led Mrs. Cornbury away.

"I am a very bad hand at supper," said the lady.

"You must take just one glass of champagne," said the gentleman. Now
that the wine was there, Mr. Tappitt appreciated the importance of
the occasion.

For the last dance before supper,--or that which was intended to be
the last,--Rachel had by long agreement been the partner of Walter
Cornbury. But now that it was over, the majority of the performers
could not go into the supper-room because of the crowd. Young
Cornbury therefore proposed that they should loiter about till their
time came. He was very well inclined for such loitering with Rachel.

"You're flirting with that girl, Master Walter," said Mrs. Cornbury.

"I suppose that's what she came for," said the cousin.

"By no means, and she's under my care; therefore I beg you'll talk no
nonsense to her."

Walter Cornbury probably did talk a little nonsense to her, but it
was very innocent nonsense. Most of such flirtations if they were
done out loud would be very innocent. Young men are not nearly so
pointed in their compliments as their elders, and generally confine
themselves to remarks of which neither mothers nor grandmothers
could disapprove if they heard them. The romance lies rather in
the thoughts than in the words of those concerned. Walter Cornbury
believed that he was flirting and felt himself to be happy, but he
had uttered nothing warmer to