Belles and Ringers

nstone ball was going on at the Grange, there was a conversation going on at Todborough Rectory, which, could she

m has carried his point? He vowed to-day the Grang

e one of a large party in an affair of this sort. You are

nt for partners, yet it's not the fun of going a big party. As for you, Sylla, I can't imagine you

ade Lady Mary set her face so dead against this ball? You told me she was full

uiring rest is all nonsense. Why, she told me to-day, she was never better, a

evation of her expressive eyebrows, "I don't think I care much about

know her well, and like her very much. We have been brought up so much wit

struck up a desperate flirtation with him, and then, you see, I got mine. Oh, you needn't look shocked. It's great fun when they have arrived at years of discretion, like Mr. Cottrell; they always get you everything you want, and are no more in earnest than you are. Then they are always at hand to save you 'an infliction.' I always s

e is a dear unaffected girl, a good horsewoman, and good at lawn tennis, billiards, and all that sort of thing. Jim Bloxam is what you see-as g

sententiously. "Let's see: there's Captain Bloxam, Captain Braybrooke, and Mr. Sartoris-all most eligible, don't you

!" exclaimed Sylla: "do

s coming to

this afternoon; wh

im 'Jim'?" (The two girls nodded assent.) "Ah, I like to ask about these things: proprieti

eep its character, we must be off to bed and listen no more to your Suffolk gabbling.

d. Lady Mary, when she found that she must yield in the matter of the ball, was far too clever a diplomatist not to give a most gracious assent. She laughed, and vowed that she really thought a set of Londoners like they all were would have looked forward to quiet during the Easter holidays; but as they preferred racket, well, racket be it to their hearts' content. Her duty towards her guests as hostess was simply to promote th

ainst his mother's inclination; but he had got his cue

he said, "that will d

e, and Braybrooke can co

y Cottrell could hardly have been said to be seriously annoyed, yet he held Lady Mary guilty of a want of consideration for a man of his status in the fashionable world. To the mischief inherent in his disposition, and which so often led him to thwart the schemes of those about him, was now added a mild feeling of resentment, not amounting to anger, but a feeling that he owed it to himself to mete out some slight punishment to his hostess. "Yes," he muttered, as he arranged his white tie in the glass just before dinner, "I think, Lady Mary, the

e not in accord the

s jangled,

l the best people in Commonstone and its neighbourhood. The Rockcliffe camp, too, had sent a strong contingent; and altogether, with a good room and good music, there was every prospect, as Jim Bloxam said, of a real good dance. That the Misses Chipchase should meet the Grange party and attach themselves to it was but natural. T

diplomacy, and in the Commonstone terpsichorean temple publicly ackn

e been so fully recognized. I am terribly afraid that Lady Mary has registered a black mark ag

al at the time, but she never bears malice. But here comes one of my grea

on made, his name duly inscribed on the la

the country generally. There will be lunch all over the camp; but mind, I expect you to patronize our mess in particular. Mile race

nk so, Mrs. Sartoris? Fresh air, amusement, gentle exerc

'All Army Cup.' There is a horribly conceited young Engineer of the name of Montague who already regards it as his own property; and saddest

u know," she said, turning to Jim, "that you beat all the men at the Orleans

t last year. Capital! this race is open to the whole army, and the entries don't close till to-morrow. I'll

ied Jim, "I am good to have

ough, under the circumstances of her disappearance, Lady Mary felt no whit disturbed, about it, yet she thought she should like a cup of tea, and asked Mr. Sartoris to be her escort. But upon arrival at the tea-room, her equanimity was destined to be somewhat upset, for the first sight that met her eyes was Lionel Beauchamp and Sylla Chipchase seated in one of the corners, and apparently engaged in a tolerably pronounced flirtation. Now, in the confusion of the g

really am quite glad I was persuaded into coming. By the way, what have you done

ol; and then Mr. Cottrell and Miss Sylla joined us; and then Cottrell tol

titute," interrupt

Mary, "if Mr. Cottrell

ds; I need not trouble

He made most desperate love last year to me in Suffolk, whispers pretty speeches into my ear the whole of this evening, and then turns me over-consigns me,

s as I thought; that girl is as practised and brazen a flirt as ever crossed a p

shire don't understand that we have been brought up together. In Suffolk it's different; but Fernshire will be

l; and with that they made their way to the ball-room, w

lunch, look at the games, and either walk or drive back as seemed good to then. Then he confided to her how he was going to enter for the "All Army Cup." "

sted great interest in the affair

a big thing to say; but I am a bit above the average, a

ve with this Mr. Montague? Recollect, I mean plung

n't think either of us can possibly draw an estimate of the other's form; still, the best man in a camp like Rockcliffe must be a pretty goo

ghing; "but, dear me! when we come down to pedestrianism we can't help it. I like your frie

pathetic in his adjuration to me

dismounted dragoon to the goose on the turnpike-road, I shall hope to see the camp champion g

ear in London for

you think

e," replied Jim; "very quiet; but you know I h

aw him ride,

in the Row.

county," replied Sylla. "You n

to say, I mean he doesn't go in for pigeons

ded for your good," laughed his interrogator. "In short, y

r saw him commit himself to rackets, ska

e how much you knew about him. And now I t

en up her abode, they found most of the elders of the party assembled

can reckon on in all Fernshire, an adorer privileged to say sweet things to me, and whose bounden duty it is never to neglect an opportunity of administering such sugarplums-how dare you treat me s

under very tolerable protection, and Lady Mary had g

. "You got rid of me, you know you did, because you fe

other middle-aged gentlemen, he rather liked such fooling with a pretty girl

e out. I should imagine Beauchamp an eligible cavalier

and I have foregat

t Lady Mary, looking upon you as one of her charges, should be so sternly determined to do

er pleased at finding me there. Still, I can't see that Lady M

y of manner that immediately aroused the young lady's attention. "Don't you know that one of the most im

erstand you,

duty of chaperons to see that the right

with fun, "I think I begin to understa

w why I so basely deserted you and changed partners with Beauchamp? Y

t amusing man I ever came across. You dare to tell me that these Blox

still, people are so

lp in another litt

oung lady, with an animation

hamp well enough t

don't you let them k

with Lady Mary and Miss Bloxam in the carriage. When he is not to be found, I shall volunteer to take his place, leaving him to follow

want him," said Sylla. "I'll take ca

ccess; and when the carriage was announced

dancing, you had better be off at once; I will come with you, and Beauchamp can take m

and, with a feeling of no little asperity towards that "f