Belles and Ringers

im Bloxam was fast ripening into. It made her thoughtful. She was suddenly aware that she cared co

d Captain Bloxam very much: he was a very pleasant acquaintance; but as to his being anything more to her, she would have scouted the idea. She knew now that he was more to her than that, and Sylla pondered gravely upon what was her best course to pursue. One thing was q

from Aldershot, as he did pretty constantly, it was rarely that Jim failed to appear in Mrs. Wriothesley's drawing-room; but the truth is the girl was rather shy of meeting Captain Bloxam just now. That Sylla's overtures should be coldly received was only what might be expected. Both Blanche and her mother regarded her as a dangerous rival. Indeed, Lady Mary's dislike to her from the first had proceeded from no other cause, so that Sylla's attempts to improve the acquaintance met with little success. Had Mrs. Wrioth

expression, "to assist nature;" and, with that view, she wrote a note to Jim Bloxam, suggesting that an early dinner and a night at the play were the proper restoratives for an invalid's nerves. She has seen Jim several times since his fall at Hurlingham, and knows very well that he got ov

look in at Bubb's this afternoon, and tell them to send me a box for the Prince of Wales's next Wednesda

erry' with you, as I can't come that night. It's hardly fair upon Jim; but as I have found matrimony pleasant myself, I don't for once mind bei

e decent luck at whist for the next few weeks; we shall want all the sovereig

cross-examine her daughter in the most insidious manner. Blanche would own to no quarrel, nor assign any reason for their gradual estrangement; but Lady Mary saw with dismay that the two were drifting wider apart as the weeks wore on. That she should attribute all this to Sylla and her designing aunt may be easily supposed. It was true that in society Lionel Beauchamp could most certainly not be accused of paying pronounced devotion to Miss Chipchase. But Lady Mary had ever a pictu

ave not cards for this, that, and the other; and now we have an invitation for what promises to be

I don't wish to go,"

what promises to be a pleasant party. It is only right and proper they

r tired of London gaiety. I shall be very

required it; but I am afraid I shall have to see what a doctor thinks of you. I must get hold of Pansey Cottrell and

ll has got to do with it. There can b

society. I declare I think sometimes that he must employ a staff of detectives to co

Blanche, "he should be able t

nquired Lady Mary, wi

lso if omniscient, a

t goes on in his own world is marvellous. He sees more than the most lynx-eyed matron amongst us. I have been to a good many p

give her mother pleasure at any time; but she felt that she had valid reasons for declining any invitation from Lionel Beauchamp as things stood between them. No accusati

ss for mess after a hard afternoon's racquets,

on Wednesday, but somebody else will have to do that; and there is a big field-day on the Thursday. Never mind: get back b

se in Hans Place, would have sold out rather than have foregone the invitation; and the night i

et, addressing his hostess, "what is our destined place of

he Prince of Wales's T

u very much given to

tre

uinea for an arm-chair to read in for three hours is a refreshing proof that there is still money in the country. People go there a great deal more because it is the fashion than because they enjoy it. It

uite a novelty. They have chartered a large steamer, and I hear t

on board, dine on board, and, I believe, dance on board. As I told Beauchamp, the only improvement I could sugges

, and wondering, in her mischievous resolve to a little shoc

ugh steamer, the right people, and it is a fine day,

, they have secured everything but the last; and I do think

shook his h

cellent lunch spread in the cabins; and they have made up their minds not to leave their moorings

ovingly, "and reduces it merely to lunching at any house in London. Ca

ls; and then I think we must be going. Oh, about transport?" she adds, pausing at the door. "I think, Mr. Cottrell, if you will take me

uld not refrain from mentally ejaculating, "Poor Lady Mary

than Sylla Chipchase; but she unmistakably was this evening, and, only that she was afraid of being ridiculed by her aunt, would have asked to ch

his best, not one bit abashed by her fain

ou care a little about me. I can hardly expect an answer tonight" (he did, and meant having it, all the same). It would be hardly fai

nk you cared about me. I mu

w; she did think he cared abo

lect before you give me an answer, I can understand; but please let me know my fate as soon as possible. It is cruel to kee

ng his companion with his meteorological views for the last half-hour. But with poor Sylla it was different. However good an actress the girl might be theatrically, she was a lamentable failure in the affairs of real life now that she found herself the leading lady; and both her quick-eyed aunt and the lynx-eyed Mr. Cottrell felt just as certain that an éclaircissement had taken place as if they had assisted at it. More d

new he was a favourite of hers, and that she was much too clever a woman to have allowed him to see so much of Sylla unless she had approved of his suit. They were a very pleasant but rather quiet party at supper. Lovers in the spring-tide of their delirium have rarely conversation except for each other; but then that suffices amply for their enjoyment. Mrs. Wriothesley, triumphant in her schemes, chatted gaily with Mr. Cottrell, who was Sybarite enough to know that the discussion of the fish sala

d; but don't say anything abo

h he had seen commenced at Todborough which made its finish perfectly plain to him. He could not help laughing as he thought of the complication of feeling that this would produce in the mind of Lady Mary Bloxam when it reached her, which of course it speedily would. Would indignatio

Beauchamp and Blanche only make a match of it, I fancy it would reconcile her ladyship to a good deal. She wouldn't then, at all events, be beaten at all points of the game by her pet aversion-Mrs. Wriothesley." And once more Mr. Cottrell chuckled over the situat

little knot, of which Lionel Beauchamp was the pr

s afloat as to the fitting out of your ship, and all the fun that you have prepared for us. People don't know what to expect. Some say you are abo

uchamp, "but they seem to think that we have at all events chartered the

a card of invitation is well-nigh an impossibility. But what a very dandy cigar-case!" and as he spoke Cottrell lifted from the table by Beauchamp's side a very smart specimen of the article in question, made of ma

with an 'L,' like other people; but that ciga

's property. I regret to see the notorious laxity of princip

in perfectly legitimate possession of th

rally allied with insatiable curiosi

he said, still f

ar! You borrowed it from Jim Bloxa

d; "you are wrong again. I had a

," interposed C

the risk of being accused of not being able to spell my own name, I kep

own the cigar-case, wondering not a little who gave the commission, and for whom