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imitate her dancing…master's graces； causing her father to perform such
caricatures of them； as to overpower all with laughing。
Mr。 Edmonstone was half Irish。 His mother； Lady Mabel Edmonstone； had
never thoroughly taken root in England； and on his marriage； had gone
with her daughter to live near her old home in Ireland。 The present
Earl of Kilcoran was her nephew； and a very close intercourse had
always been kept up between the families； Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone being
adopted by their younger cousins as uncle and aunt； and always so
called。
The house at Allonby was in such confusion； that the family there
expected to dine nowhere on the day of the ball； and the Hollywell
party thought it prudent to secure their dinner at home； with Philip
and Mary Ross； who were to go with them。
By special desire； Philip wore his uniform； and while the sisters were
dressing Charlotte gave him a thorough examination； which led to a talk
between him and Mary on accoutrements and weapons in general； but while
deep in some points of chivalrous armour； Mary's waist was pinched by
two mischievous hands； and a little fluttering white figure danced
around her。
'0 Amy！ what do you want with me？'
'Come and be trimmed up；' said Amy。
'I thought you told me I was to have no trouble。 I am dressed；' said
Mary； looking complacently at her full folds of white muslin。
'No more you shall； but you promised to do as you were told。' And Amy
fluttered away with her。
'Do you remember；' said Philip； 'the comparison of Rose Flammock
dragging off her father； to a little carved cherub trying to uplift a
solid monumental hero？'
'0； I must tell Mary！' cried Charlotte； but Philip stopped her； with
orders not to be a silly child。
'It is a pity Amy should not have her share；' said Charles。
'The comparison to a Dutch cherub？' asked Guy。
'She is more after the pattern of the little things on little wings； in
your blotting…book；' said Charles； 'certain lines in the predicament of
the cherubs of paintersheads 〃et proeterea nihil〃。'
'0 Guy； do you write verses？ cried Charlotte。
'Some nonsense；' muttered Guy； out of countenance； 'I thought I had
made away with that rubbish； where is it？'
'In the blotting…book in my room；' said Charles。 'I must explain that
the book is my property； and was put into your room when mamma was
beautifying it for you； as new and strange company。 On its return to
me； at your departure； I discovered a great accession of blots and
sailing vessels； beside the aforesaid little things。'
'I shall resume my own property；' said Guy； departing in haste。
Charlotte ran after him； to beg for a sight of it； and Philip asked
Charles what it was like。
'A romantic incident；' said Charles； 'just fit for a novel。 A Petrarch
leaving his poems about in blotting…books。'
Charles used the word Petrarch to stand for a poet； not thinking what
lady's name he suggested； and he was surprised at the severity of
Philip's tone as he inquired； 'Do you mean anything； or do you not？'
Perceiving with delight that he had perplexed and teased； he rejoiced
in keeping up the mystery：
'Eh？ is it a tender subject with you； too？'
Philip rose； and standing over him； said； in a low but impressive tone：
'I cannot tell whether you are trifling or not； but you are no boy now；
and can surely see that this is no subject to be played with。 If you
are concealing anything you have discovered； you have a great deal to
answer for。 I can hardly imagine anything more unfortunate than that
he should become attached to either of your sisters。'
'Et pourquoi？' asked Charles； coolly。
'I see；' said Philip； retreating to his chair； and speaking with great
composure； 'I did you injustice by speaking seriously。' Then； as his
uncle came into the room； he asked some indifferent question； without
betraying a shade of annoyance。
Charles meanwhile congratulated himself on his valour in keeping his
counsel； in spite of so tall a man in scarlet； but he was much nettled
at the last speech； for if a real attachment to his sister had been in
question； he would never have trifled about it。 Keenly alive to his
cousin's injustice； he rejoiced in having provoked and mystified the
impassable； though he little knew the storm he had raised beneath that
serene exterior of perfect self…command。
The carriages were announced； and Mr。 Edmonstone began to call the
ladies； adding tenfold to the confusion in the dressing…room。 There
was Laura being completed by the lady's maid； Amabel embellishing Mary；
Mrs。 Edmonstone with her arm loaded with shawls； Charlotte flourishing
about。 Poor Maryit was much against her willbut she had no heart
to refuse the wreath of geraniums that Amy's own hands had woven for
her； and there she sat； passive as a doll； though in despair at their
all waiting for her。 For Laura's toilette was finished； and every one
began dressing her at once； while Charlotte； to make it better；
screamed over the balusters that all were ready but Mary。 Sir Guy was
heard playing the 'Harmonious Blacksmith；' and Captain Morville's step
was heard； fast and firm。 At last； when a long chain was put round her
neck； she cried out； 'I have submitted to everything so far； I can bear
no more！' jumped up； caught hold of her shawl； and was putting it on；
when there was a general outcry that they must exhibit themselves to
Charles。
They all ran down； and Amy； flying up to her brother； made a splendid
sweeping curtsey； and twirled round in a pirouette。
'Got up； regardless of expense！' cried Charles； 'display yourselves。'
The young ladies ranged themselves in imitation of the book of
fashions。 The sisters were in white； with wreaths of starry jessamine。
It was particularly becoming to Laura's bella…donna lily complexion；
rich brown curls； and classical features； and her brother exclaimed：
'Laura is exactly like Apollo playing the lyre； outside mamma's old
manuscript book of music。'
'Has not Amy made beautiful wreaths？' said Laura。 'She stripped the
tree； and Guy had to fetch the ladder； to gather the sprays on the top
of the wall。'
'Do you see your bit of myrtle； Guy；' said Amy； pointing to it； on
Laura's head； 'that you tried to persuade me would pass for jessamine？'
'Ah！ it should have been all myrtle；' said Guy。
Philip leant meantime against the door。 Laura only once glanced
towards him； thinking all this too trifling for him； and never
imagining the intense interest with which he gave a meaning to each
word and look。
'Well done； Mary！' cried Charles； 'they have furbished you up
handsomely。'
Mary made a face； and said she should wonder who was the fashionable
young lady she should meet in the pier…glasses at Allonby。 Then Mr。
Edmonstone hurried them away； and they arrived in due time。
The saloon at Allonby was a beautiful room； one end opening into a
conservatory； full of coloured lamps； fresh green leaves； and hot…house
plants。 There they found as yet only the home party； the good…natured；
merry Lord Kilcoran； his quiet English wife； who had bad health； and
looked hardly equal to the confusion of the evening； Maurice； and two
younger boys； Eveleen； and her two little sisters； Mabel and Helen。
'This makes it hard on Charlotte；' thought Amy； while the two girls
dragged her off to show her the lamps in the conservatory； and the rest
attacked Mrs。 Edmonstone for not having brought Charlotte； reproaching
her with hardness of heart of which they had never believed her
capableLady Eveleen； in especial； talking with that exaggeration of
her ordinary manner which her dread of Captain Morville made her
assume。 Little he recked of her； he was absorbed in observing how far
Laura's conduct coincided with Charles's hints。 On the first
opportunity； he asked her to dance； and was satisfied with her pleased
acquiescence； but the next moment Guy came up； and in an eager manner
made the same request。
'I am engaged；' said she； with a bright； proud glance at Philip； and
Guy pursued Amabel into the conservatory； where he met with better
success。 Mr。 Edmonstone gallantly asked Mary if he was too old a
partner； and was soon dancing with the step and spring that had once
made him the best dancer in the county。
Mrs。 Edmonstone watched her flock； proud and pleased； thinking how well
they looked and that； in especial； she had never been sensible how much
Laura's and Philip's good looks excelled the rest of the world。 They
were much alike in the remarkable symmetry both of figure and feature；
the colour of the deep blue eye； and fairness of complexion。
'It is curious；' thought Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'that； so very handsome as
Philip is； it is never the first thing remarked about him； just a