o Cecil.
The momentary reluctance was not lost upon her, she become rather silent,
ditto Captain Du Meresq; but their opposite neighbours were in a full
flow of chatter.

"I saw you on the Rink, Miss Leigh, I wish I could skate like you. What
is that thing you do with a broom??"

"The rose."

"Take a good deal of cultivating to produce. I should think? Are you
going to the M'Nab's ball?"

"No; I am not asked. The others are."

"But you do go to balls sometimes?"

"Oh, yes; Mrs. Rolleston promised I should; but I can't go without an
invitation, and I very seldom get one."

"I daresay not," said Jack hotly; "they don't want their daughters cut
out."

"Stuff," cried Bluebell, with a sudden blush, which was not occasioned by
the remark, but by the expression of Bertie Du Meresq's eyes that she had
caught for about the third time since dinner began. It was very
provoking; they had a sort of magnetic power, that forced her to look
that way, and she fancied she detected a half-pleased smile in
recognition of the involuntary suffusion.

"We are going; to 'fix up a prance' after the garrison sleigh drive on
the 10th," continued young Vavasour; "will you come my sleigh, Miss
Leigh?"

Bluebell's face brightened with anticipation; then she looked down, and
demurred,--"I don't know that I shall be able to go."

"That's only a put off, I am sure; you came out last garrison
sleigh-drive."

"Yes, because Colonel Rolleston took me in his, but I mustn't expect
to go every time; and you see there's Freddy; but I _should_ like it
awfully, Mr. Vavasour."

"Well, I know they will make you come," said he confidently. "Promise me
you won't drive with any other fellow."

"No fear of that; I don't suppose any one else will ask me."

"Wouldn't they," thought Vavasour. "I know two or three of our fellows
are death on driving her."

"Cecil," said Bertie, suddenly, "I think you have grown much quieter."

"I am sure I might make the same remark, and for the purposes of
conversation it requires two to talk."

"You are so stiff, or something," murmured he; "not like the jolly little
girl who used to ride with me in the Farwoods. Those were pleasant days,
Cecil--at least, I thought so."

"You got very suddenly tired of them, however."

"That I didn't," exclaimed he. "I was obliged to go."

"It was a yachting excursion, wasn't it?" carelessly.

"Yes, ostensibly; I had business too. Do you know Cecil very nearly wrote
to you