he's one of those that will be engaged to twenty, if he can
find twenty foolish enough to listen to him. And for her, who never
was at a dance before, to go on with him like that;--I must say that
I thought it disgraceful!"

"Well, Mrs. Tappitt," said Mrs. Cornbury, speaking with much
authority in her voice, "I can only say that I didn't see it. She
was under my charge, and if it was as you say I must be very much to
blame,--very much indeed."

"I'm sure I didn't mean that," said Mrs. Tappitt, frightened.

"I don't suppose you did,--but I mean it. As for the young gentleman,
I know very little about him. He may be everything that is bad."

"You'll find that he is, Mrs. Cornbury."

"But as to Miss Ray, whom I've known all my life, and whose mother
my father has known for all her life, I cannot allow anything of
the kind to be said. She was under my charge; and when young ladies
are under my charge I keep a close eye upon them,--for their own
comfort's sake. I know how to manage for them, and I always look
after them. On the night of your party I saw nothing in Miss Ray's
conduct that was not nice, ladylike, and well-behaved. I must say so;
and if I hear a whisper to the contrary in any quarter, you may be
sure that I shall say so open-mouthed. How d'you do, Mr. Tappitt? I'm
so glad you've come in, as I specially wanted to see you." Then she
shook hands with Mr. Tappitt, who entered the room at the moment, and
the look and manner of her face was altered.

Mrs. Tappitt was cowed. If her husband had not come in at that moment
she might have said a word or two in her own defence, being driven to
do so by the absence of any other mode of retreating. But as he came
in so opportunely, she allowed his coming to cover her defeat. Strong
as was her feeling on the subject, she did not dare to continue her
attack upon Rachel in opposition to the defiant bravery which came
full upon her from Mrs. Cornbury's eyes. The words had been bad, but
the determined fire of those eyes had been worse. Mrs. Tappitt was
cowed, and allowed Rachel's name to pass away without further remark.

Mrs. Cornbury saw it all at a glance;--saw it all and understood it.
The vote was probably lost; but it would certainly be lost if Tappitt
and his wife discussed the matter before he had pledged himself.
The vote would probably be lost, even though Tappitt should, in his
ignorance of what had just passed, pledge himself to give it. All
that Mrs. Cornbury