Belles and Ringers

pirits from their walk. It had been a very successful excursion,

n sings charmingly, and is simply immense at charad

ing next week," said her brother, as they passe

arter of an hour ago; he h

aid putting the finishing-touches to her toilette, when a slig

dient to the intimation, the lady's-maid left the room. "I have just looked in to speak to you, Blanche, abo

so if you wish it; but I sho

ulgar, not to say rowdy, affair. Besides, surely you have had plent

jigs round and round in a place about ten feet square, but one never gets a really good spin. We have

ece of fern in her daughter's tresses. "We came down here for quiet, and if you do

don't want to drag you over to Commonstone, when your wish is to be left peacefully at home. We won't do the Easter ball, though it

t she would have termed successful marriages were as much owing to the clever diplomacy of mothers or chaperons as the victory of a horse in a big race is due to the skilful handling of his jockey. During the afternoon she had been meditating over the plan of her Easter campaign, and resolved to adhere to her original determination. Most decidedly she would have nothing

positively obliged to; but keep her out altogether I can't. The Chipchase girls have grown up with my own, and been always accustomed to come and go pretty much as they liked. However," t

the drawing-room; "dinner is already announced, my lady. Come

th her. "It seems I am dreadfully late, and have only time now to say I am delighted that you have found your way t

Lady Mary, on so favo

as he leisurely c

ugury! What c

n to dinner? Do you not know that Lionel Beauchamp is the thirteenth? and do you

Lady Mary; "why, they say

. Popular opinion, I think, now inclines to the belief that

ciences," replied her ladyship, laughing, "and find that the omens, li

r married within the twelvemonth, but reserved the latter lot for him; and they indicate further who his future wife shall be. When there is no lady next him, it's a hanging matter, saith the oracle; whe

me! they have begun to talk about that horrid bal

xam, "of course we are all going t

ay! Just fancy, my dear Jim, what it would be,-townspeople and excursionists from round about. No; I don't go in for b

mother's argument. "It will be great fun, and I don't suppose a bit worse than

Monday ball. Of course you and any of the gentlemen o

ourselves, you know. It is a good room; and here is Bla

"I assure you I don't care about it in the least. I have no doubt mamma is r

ountenance, "I did think I could count upon you; but you are as

arty in the afternoon, as they stood in the camp of Rockcliffe overlooking Commonstone, had, one and all, vowed to foot it merr

o out on the war-path without their natural protectors, you must not be surprised if some of them lose their scalps. Beauchamp, you are a devotee

"I don't think I care about

e, and knew better than to run counter

ed. Stop! hang it, I will exercise my military prerogative; yes, Braybrooke

I won't see you fall into the hands of the Philistines without an effort at your preservation. You'll

go, if you wish it,

s she smilingly murmured that "if Mrs. Sartoris had the courage to face the h

up some more recruits, at all events, young ladies," he continued, appealing to the Misses Evesham, "it's

st conducive to Lionel Beauchamp's subjection. Taking advantage of the decanters having made their appearance on the table, she bent her head to Mrs. Evesham, and the rising of the ladies put an end to the subject, at all events for the present. "If," th

ut from a sheer sense of fun. The present state of affairs, for instance, tickled him immensely. He knew that poor Lady Mary had resolutely made up her mind that the Grange party should have none of this ball, and equally did he foresee that there was every probability of both herself and all her guests being present at it. Secondly, she had brought Lionel Beauchamp down here, far away from rival beauties, so that Miss Blanche might capture him at her leisure; and such was Lady Mary's malignant star, that an exceedingly pretty and fascinating stranger immediately appeared upon th

uilty, and rather repented her of having volunteered to join Captain Bloxam's party; but when the gentlemen mad

t he had confirmed that lady in her iniquity. Now he was talking with the Misses Evesham, and she felt convinced that those flabby-minded damsels had admitted that they should like to be present, although not half an hour ago they had assured her that they detested all such "omnium gatherums." If she could but have got hold of Jim and tol

deuced near made me revoke. What on earth makes you so red hot about this ball?" And the Squir

eman's form intercepted the slight bending of the brows and sh

on such an occasion, and the Todborough contingent must show with its chief at its head. Who knows but you may want to contest the county again some of these day

you credit for unlimited 'cheek' when on your legs after su

until the day after to-morrow." And the Squire again looked anxiously round for instructions from his wife; but Pansey Cottrell was now

always want a little something doing to them at the last, don't they, Mrs. Sartoris? Besides, vacillation spoils slumber. I am only a

rather tall talk, you know. I never heard going to

ou think of the many worse things you might do;-Stay at home here, for instan

Squire, laughing. "I suppose we must go, l

. As a causeur of some repute in his own estimation, he considered himself in duty bound to take vengeance for such negligence, and spun out his story to its extreme attenuation before suffering his hostess to escape. At length released, Lady Mary crosses to the whist-table; but the conversation has

andle in the hall: "instead of being dead against, it seems to be blowing quite a gale

at is the same thing, do as the others do; and I shall expect you to do the same, Mr. Beauchamp, and not, after the manner of some shameless Lond

ssure you I am very fond of a country ball. My objection

upon; and now good night. O Jim, Jim!" she whispered, as she passed her brother, "how could you? Had you been y

eavens! what

of us going to this ball, and have you not been

t the madre's reasons may be for setting her face against this bit of jollity I don't know; but you

understanding between these two on the subject of the Commonstone ball. Jim Bloxam had before

rer to give lookers-on such transparent grounds for designating her a match-making mother. But Lady Mary was a woman both clever and fertile in resource, one who thoroughly understood the philosophy that, when things are not going to your liking, there only remains to make the best of things as they are. Her instinct warned her that it would have been better for her designs if she could have carried out her original programme, and contrived that the Grange party should keep to them

hing to attend that Easter ball?-a mob of tag, rag, and bobtail, tradespeople and people from Heaven knows where: very good fun

y! Why, you know we

besides, Mrs. Sar

dy Mary sharply; "that woman is evidently one of the fast school, and

poor little Mrs. Sartoris, who was simply a y

t fortnight. Girls at her age are so easily knocked up by the dissipations of London, and

, and no girl enjoys dancing more. Why, she has never been sick nor sorry since sh

is usually supposed to be the best judge of such matters. If she is regularly

slightest probability of my forgetting it, insomuch as, if such a misfortune should befal