She called him
Ferdinand; that was quite sufficient to make him happy, although he felt
very awkward. He had been seated some minutes before he observed that
Glastonbury was next to him.

'I am so nervous, dear Glastonbury,' said Ferdinand, 'that I do not
think I shall be able to remain in the room.'

'I have heard something,' said Glastonbury, with a smile, 'that makes me
quite bold.'

'I cannot help fancying that it is all enchantment,' said Ferdinand.

'There is no wonder, my dear boy, that you are enchanted,' said
Glastonbury.

'Ferdinand,' said Miss Temple in a low voice, 'papa is taking wine with
you.' Ferdinand looked up and caught Mr. Temple's kind salute.

'That was a fine horse you were riding to-day,' said Count Mirabel,
across the table to Miss Grandison.

'Is it not pretty? It is Lord Montfort's.'

'Lord Montfort's!' thought Ferdinand. 'How strange all this seems!'

'You were not of the riding party this morning,' said his Grace to
Henrietta.

'I have not been very well this day or two,' said Miss Temple.

'Well, I think you are looking particularly well to-day,' replied the
duke. 'What say you, Captain Armine?'

Ferdinand blushed, and looked confused at this appeal, and muttered some
contradictory compliments.

'Oh! I am very well now,' said Miss Temple.

'You must come and dine with me,' said Lady Bellair to Count Mirabel,
'because you talk well across a table. I want a man who talks well
across a table. So few can do it without bellowing. I think you do it
very well.'

'Naturally,' replied the Count. 'If I did not do it well, I should not
do it at all.'

'Ah! you are audacious,' said the old lady. 'I like a little impudence.
It is better to be impudent than to be servile.'

'Mankind are generally both,' said the Count.

'I think they are,' said the old lady. 'Pray, is the old Duke of
Thingabob alive? You know whom I mean: he was an _emigre_, and a
relation of yours.'

'De Crillon. He is dead, and his son too.'

'He was a great talker,' said Lady Bellair, 'but then, he was the tyrant
of conversation. Now, men were made to listen as well as to talk.'

'Without doubt,' said the Count; 'for Nature has given us two ears, but
only one mouth.'

'You said that we might all be very happy,' whispered Lord Montfort to
Miss Grandison. 'What think you; have we succeeded?'

'I think we all look very confused,' said Miss Grandison. 'What a
fortunate, idea it was inviting Lady Bellair and