Rachel Ray

hel’s beauty. Mrs Butler Cornbury having begun the work of chaperon carried it on heartily, and talked her young friend up to the top of the tree. Long before supper her card was quite f

not choosing to select any special period for throwing him over. She endeavoured to explain this when she waltzed with him, shortly before supper; but her explanation did not

she answered. “I don’t sup

ou lik

ively. But one can’t do e

ou won’t let me

roy all my pleasure. You should let me enjoy it while it

e does for a dance,” said

small. But it’s very kind of you to say so.

rnbury, “what a nice gir

ed,” said

f it. The young men seem rather ta

er a misfortune to a young girl — particularly when it m

see tha

nd really she does look very nice. My girls are very good-natured to her. I only hope her head won’t be turned. Here’s Mr Tappi

hand at supper,

the gentleman. Now that the wine was there, Mr T

r Cornbury. But now that it was over, the majority of the performers could not go into the supper-room because of the crowd. Young Co

that girl, Master Walt

what she came for,

r my care; therefore I be yo

n their compliments as their elders, and generally confine themselves to remarks of which neither mothers nor grandmothers could disapprove if they heard them. The romance lies rather in the thoughts than in

public balls,

, Miss Ray?”

dance of any descri

ou’ll go on.” Mr Cornbury’s flirtation

ome, and that the people about him were bound to obey him. He desired the musicians to strike up again while the elders were eatin

into supper with

said Rowan, “and Miss Ray i

e on your part,

e at all,”

nd see if places are ready for us.” Cornbury rather despised Rowan, as

Ray to go down as yet. But a couple is wanted for

just want you. This will be the nices

uld have remained with Mr Cornbury, thinking that to be her safer conduct; but Cherry’s voice h

will do as she ple

she will,”

ry stiffly, and there was an end of his flirtation. “That’s the sort of thing that always happens when a fel

ve Cherry for our vis-à-vis, and after t

id I’d go

thout you. What a brick Cherry is!

do te

t will make

Cherry to like me, beca

ould look like one. Come, who’s forgetting the figure now? I shouldn’t wonder

ht to have remained with Walter when he desired it. So she told herself — but yet she liked being taken down to supper by Luke Rowan. She had one other cause of uneasiness. She constantly caught Mrs Tappitt’s eye fixed upon herself, and whenever she did so Mrs Tappitt’s eye seemed to look unkindly at her. She had also an instinctive fee

e eatables. As I belong in a manner to the house I took down Miss Harford, and hovered about her for five minutes. Then I managed to lose myself in the crowd, and coming up here got the music up.

an, it was

’t care about its being wron

ocking m

l, never mind, you’ll

it’s very

moral of it for Mr Cornbury. I’ll tell

me anything tha

t up this party on purpose t

nse

because it would enable me to say one wo

om the stile. She couldn’t show any feeling of offence before all those who were around her; and

No? Well; shall we go? I am afraid to say it.” They were now out in the hall, standing

go upstairs.

s it that you are so unwilling

ing. Only we ha

when I held your

think you are very cruel?” As she made the accusation, she looked down upon the floor

d he. “That’

yself while I am here, by saying thing

t I know this: I would give anything in the world to make myself su

u’ll come ups

d w

— without seeming t

riage. It was impossible that she should go through these other two dances with Luke Rowan; and as for her other engagements, they must be allowed to shift for themselves. One had been made early in the evening with Mr Griggs. It would be a great thing to escape dancing with Mr Griggs. She would ask Cherry to make her apologies to everybody. As she entered the room she felt ashamed of herself, and unable to take any place. She was oppressed by an idea that she ought not to be walking about without som

our hand was promised for eve

ow, but I declare I don’t know who

ed a little just about this ti

ut, Mrs Cornbury, when you’re rea

u intended to dance at lea

nt to avoid that man,” and she pointed out Mr Griggs by a glance of her eye. “I

scrape without running away.” Then Mr Griggs came up, and, with a very low bow, struck out

e Miss Ray just at present. She’

rs Cornbury, and stood twiddling the bunch of little gilt playthings

sorry,” sa

, Mrs Cornbury, I think a turn or

she would rather not, and of

don’t. A gentleman has his rights you k

d up for this dance. And one of the rights o

ury, you are down

oss the floor, and Rachel crept after her more dismayed than ever. Mr Griggs the while stood transfixed to his place, stroking his moustache wit

y boy?” said a bank clerk,

ggs; “but people do give themselves such airs! Miss

ho was passing by. Then Mr Grig

d know of it, and that Mr Cornbury would become ashamed of her. That Mrs Tappitt was already very angry with her she was quite sure. She wished she had not come to the ball, and began to think that perhaps her sister might be right. It almost seemed to herself that she had not kno

young lady, and you’re to have your own way. If you’re quite in earnest, I’ll get someone to order the carriage.” Rachel said that she was quite in earnest, and then Walter was called. “So you’re going, are you?” said he. “Miss Ray has ill-treated me so dreadfully that I can’t express my regret.” “Ill-treated you, too, has she? Upon my word, my dear, you’ve shown yourself quite great upon the occasion. When I was a girl, there was nothing I liked so muc

because it exposed her to so much ill-natured remark. With him she would quarrel — quarrel really. She would let him know that he should not call her by her Christian name just when it suited him to do so, and then take himself off to play with others in the same way. She would tell Cherry, and make Cherry understand that all walks and visiting and friendl

t he might hand the guest that had honoured him down to her carriage; and Mrs Tappitt fluttered about, profuse in her acknowledgments for the favour done to them. “And we do so hope Mr Cornbury will be successful,” she said, as she bade

s been so excessively kind to you.” “The naughty girl! It isn’t that at all,” said Cherry. “It’s she that is hurrying Mrs Cornbury away.” “Goodnight,” said Augusta very coldly. “And, Rachel,” said Cherry, “mind you come up tomorrow and t

up here tomor

Cherry that I

ragg’s End. Will your

t come. P

you. If you do not come up to the girls, I shall certainly go down to you. Now goodnight. Goodnigh

ons,” said Mrs Cornbury; “but that you

Rachel, not kno

and a gentleman, which is more than I can say for all of

so sorry that you shoul

he way of your satisfaction and contentment. Balls are given specially for young ladies; and it is my theory that they are to make themselves happy while they are there, and not sacrifice themselves to men whom they don’t wish to know. You can’t always refuse when you’re asked, but

little speech to her friend, thanking her for all that she had done. Ought she not also to apologise in some wa

to blame,” said

blame — unless it was in being run

m. And then while we were waiting because the room downstairs was

. I’ve been so glad to have you with me, and I hope I may take you again with me somewhere before long. Remember me kindly to your mother

ay anything after midnight was very late. She was not, however, angry, or even vexed, but simply pleased that her girl had at last come back to her. “Oh, mamma, I’m afraid it has been very hard upon you, waiting for me!” said Rachel; “b

the mother, feeling a mother’s ambition that her

y of people ask

ou find it

rightened about the

that you walt

girl; and as the things turned out I could not help myself. I began with her cous

e was surprised, and perhaps a litt

, ma

y all kin

, ma

ttle to say about it; but

o much to think about. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow

ish you good

y was so kind — you can have n

was a good

ly quite fond of her. But she isn’t a bit like what I expected. She chooses to have her

id she do; and wha

h of me — just as she might have done if I’d been some grand y

h perhaps a pardonable pride, that she herself had “come of decent people”. The Tappitts were higher than her in the world, and so were the Griggses. But she knew that her for

hat horrid Mr Griggs was going to dan

e that young

ld have stayed ever so much longer if I had not pressed he

at, when she was q

e love her. And there was suc

N

These last words were spoken very mildly, and Rachel, as sh

dance w

ed later only I was engaged to dance with hi

—? Did

it all without my saying anything. He says he shall come here tomorrow if

thing more than

tell you how he speaks. If you think it

lieve that it was wrong. A few minutes ago Rachel was unable to open her mouth, and was anxious to escape to bed; bu

id to herself, as she laid her head upon her pill