Rachel Ray
was 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 he
at. "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 p
t you dan
When a woman has five children I don'
do more than that
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
hen 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 up-stairs 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
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 nee
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
t 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, andeal about you, Miss
ch about me." The words sounded uncivil,
specially;-and-and
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
e kept all these on purpose for you, although twenty g
you tell such fib
y are," and he
l; "except for one quadrille to Mr. Corn
s put down for she knew not what dances. Then he took her card and scrawled his own name on it in various places. S
his numerous engagements. "Do you like my brother?" said she. "But of cours
he is ve
er. But you mustn't say that I said s
like that for my b
t would
ver had a brother;-perh
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 for
he 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
came and sat beside her. "Very pretty; isn't
hout 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 t
ugh 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 dr
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 authorized, 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 re
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' 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 w
are the o
se there are no fires now. Look here; there's a seat in the window." Then he placed her in the inclosure of an
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 anyt
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, but
hink it
he name most fit for poetic use. Who does no
name. Ruth is twice prettier,
body before calle
knew anybody
coincidence that ought to make us
don't. What woul
that I called you so because I liked you. But perhaps they might think also
, Mr. Buckett. "I have been looking for you every
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
Rowan was not liked in the brewery at all. "We think him con