Rachel Ray

as bright, well-featured, with speaking lustrous eyes, with perfect complexion, and full bust, with head of glorious shape and figure like a Juno — and yet with all

art, I think, and as such is the happiest of the three. I do not say that Mrs Butler Cornbury was a woman of very strong feeling; but her strongest feelings were home feelings. She was going to Mrs Tappitt’s party because it might serve her husband’s purposes; she was going to burden hers

eat. “Make yourself comfortable, my dear,” said Mrs Cornbury; “you can’t crush me. Or rather I always make myself crushable on such occasions as this. I suppose we are going to have a great crowd?” Rachel merely said that she didn’t know. She supposed there would be a good many

t you dan

When a woman has five children I don’

do more than th

o say you w

about it, but I’m sure she

el

did learn once, when I was ve

is was the daughter of Mr Comfort, the clergyman who preached with such strenuous eloquence against worldly v

en she was again taken into the hall she hardly remembered where she was, and when Mrs Cornbury took her by the arm and began to walk upstairs with her, her strongest feeling was a wish that she was at home again. On the first landing — for the dancing-room was upstairs — they encountered Mr Tappitt, conspicuous in a blue satin waistcoat; and on the second landing they found Mrs Tappitt, magnificent in a green Irish poplin. “Oh, Mrs Cornbury, we are so delighted. The Miss Fawcetts are here; they are just come. How kind of you to bring Rachel Ray. How do you do, Rachel?” Then Mrs Cornbury moved easily on into the drawing-room, and Rachel still found herself carried with her. She was half afraid that sh

ull thing. I danced with Adolphus Griggs, just because I couldn’t escape him for one quadrille.” Rachel took the card, but never having seen such a thing before did not in the least understand its object. “As you get engaged for the dances you must put down their names in this way, you see,’— and Cherry showed her card, which already bore the designations of several cavaliers, scrawled in hieroglyphics which were intelligible to herself. “Haven’t you got a pencil? Well, you can come to me. I have one hanging here, you know.” Rachel was beginning to understand, and to think that she should not have very much need for the pencil, when Mrs Cornbury returned to her, bringing a young man in her wake. “I want to introduce my cousin to you, Walter Cornbury,” said she. Mrs Cornbury was a woman who knew her duty as a chaperon, and who would not neglect it. “He waltzes delightfully,” said Mrs Cornbury, whispering, “and you needn

gusta to her mother. Augusta had just refused the odious Griggs, and was

Mrs Tappitt; “but I don’t think she can waltz.

room for Luke Rowan. She had just seen Mary Rowan in the crowd, but had not spoken to her. She had only known her from the manner in which Cherry Tappitt had spoken to her, and it must be explained that Rachel had not seen young Rowan since that parting under the elm-trees. Indeed, since then she had see

art in her mouth, was claimed by her partner, and was carried forward towards the ground for dancing, tacitly assenting to her fate because sh

e or two,” said sh

bit afraid of going on with me. Patty has told me all about it, and we’ll make it right in a brace of turns.” T

hink I can

ement! Of her feet and their movements she had known nothing; though she had followed the music with fair accuracy, she had done so unconsciously, and when he allowed her to stop she did not know whi

d to speak a word in answer, but her w

hat girl could waltz,” said Mrs Tappitt to old Mrs Rule. “I don’t think her mother would like it if she saw it,” said Mrs Rule. “And what would Mrs Prime say?” said Mrs Tappitt. However the ice was broken, and Rachel, when she was given to understand that that dance was done, felt herself to be aware that the world of waltzing was open to her, at

s gently touched on the arm by a fan, and on turning found herself confronted by Luke Rowan and his sister. “I’ve been trying to get at you so long,

for letting us escape,” said C

ter. Where on earth have you been for these ten days?” Then the introduction was made, an

deal about you, Miss

ch about me.” The words sounded uncivil,

pecially — and — an

make your acquaint

e to come and walk with us, and we have

o her finger-nails. He must have known why she had not again joined the girls from the brewery in their walks. Or had he forgotten that he

d Rowan. “Precious people are right to make themselve

es!” sai

kept all these on purpose for you, although twenty gir

you tell such fibs

ey are,” and he

l; “except for one quadrille to Mr Cornb

s put down for she knew not what dances. Then he took her card and scrawled his own name on it in various places. Sh

his numerous engagements. “Do you like my brother?” said she. “But of course

he is ve

er. But you mustn’t say that I said s

like that for my bro

t would

ver had a brother — per

Oh, here’s my partner. I do so hope I shall see you very often while I’ m at Baslehurst.” Then Rachel was alone, but Mrs Tappitt came up to her in a minute. “My dear,” said she, “Mr Griggs desires the honour of your hand fo

evening. It was quite impossible that she should dance five dances with him, so she thought that she would mark out two with her nail. The very next was one of them, and during that she would explain to him what she had done. The whole thing loomed large in her thoughts and made her feel anxious. She would have been unhappy if he had not come to her at all, and now she was unhappy because he had thrust himself upon her

came and sat beside her. “Very pretty; isn’t

out hesitation. Ah me! It is the young men who receive all the reverence that the world has to pay — all the rever

en ice, sir, but I suppose they forgot it.” Where had Mrs T. procured all that wine? It was very plain to him that she had got the better of him by some deceit. He would smile, and smile, and smile during the evening; but he would have it out with Mrs Tappitt before he would allow that lady to

hough she would rather not have danced with Buckett. A week or two ago, before she had been taken up into Mrs Cornbury’s carriage, or had waltzed with Mrs Cornbury’s cousin, or had looked at the setting sun with Luke Rowan, she would have been sufficiently contented to dance with Mr Buckett — if in those days she had ever

t that promise of friendship. But now she would have to stand again with him in solitude — a solitude of another kind — in a solitude which was authorised, during which he might whisper what words he pleased to her, and from which she could not even run away. It had been thought to be a great sin on her part to have remained a moment with

dly spoke to her. “Tell me,” said he then, “wh

been a

arted — about being friends. One tells one’s friend the r

I said anythi

his friend. “But you have not told me yet why it was that you remained at home. Come — answer me a fair question fairly. Had I offended you?” Again she paused and made him no reply. It see

offend you

from her difficulty. When he had done his work of dancing, she began hers, and as she placed both her

ord or two about Mrs Cornbury’s dress, and another word about the singular arrangement of Mr Griggs’s jewellery, at which word she almost laughed outright, and then a third word laudatory of

hat,” said Rachel. “

confidence.” That word confidence again silenced her, and nothing m

o such queer places. You see that little room with the door open. That’s where Mr Tappitt keeps his old boots and the whip with wh

are the o

e there are no fires now. Look here; there’s a seat in the window.” Then he placed her in the enclosure of an o

ter go back to

in. You should always escape from the hot air for a moment or t

of it. Please don’t

I knew you were angry with

don’t say any

to do it, so that it may be no offence? Only think; if I am to live here in Baslehurst all my life, is it not reasonable t

, n

, Miss Ray — if it must be Miss Ray?” Then he paused, bu

hink it

he name most fit for poetic use. Who does no

name. Ruth is twice prettier,

body before calle

knew anybody

a coincidence that ought to make us

don’t. What woul

liked you. But perhaps they might think also that you let m

, Mr Buckett —“I have been looking for you everyw

said Rachel, “but

hearing had spoken of her as the belle of the room, and he did not like to lose his chance. “Oh, Mr Rowan,” said Rachel, looking back as she was being led away. “I must speak one word to Mr

e. “An engagement

I reall

u, but I will scratch out n

was not liked in the brewery at all. “We think him conceited, you