Young ladies, sir, are long and curious
In putting on their trims; forget how day goes
And then 'tis their good morrow when they are ready.
* * * * *
I warrant ye a hundred dressings now
She has surveyed--this and that fashion looked on,
For ruffs and gowns.
WOMEN PLEASED.
Margaret was hardly awake the next morning, before she received a
message from Harriet requesting to see her as soon as she was dressed,
and having hastened this ceremony, she found her friend sitting up in
bed very flushed, very hoarse, but evidently much pleased with
something.
"Do not kiss me, ma mie," said she, holding Margaret at arm's length,
"you shall not catch this cold; but look here--your ticket for the
T---- ball. I was so afraid they might be all gone, as the ball takes
place the day after to-morrow; but one of my few friends sent me this,
so now set Mrs. Mason to work as fast as possible."
Margaret was young enough to feel elated at the thought of a ball; her
eyes sparkled as she received the ticket, but recollecting the state of
her friend, evidently on the borders of a severe cold, she strongly
urged that they should give up all idea of the ball, it was of no
consequence; certainly not worth running any risk.
Harriet was always positive in what she undertook, and she would not
hear of a single objection. She meant to keep her room until they set
off to the ball. She had not caught a cold but a chill, which was a very
different thing; so she thrust a small bunch of keys into Margaret's
hand, and told her to run down as the chapel bell was ringing, and to
take her post at the breakfast table.
Mr. Humphries was at prayers, and accompanied her from the chapel. He
mustered courage to pay her some awkward compliment upon her regular
attendance. But Margaret, who was very reserved upon any subject
connected with the feelings, said quietly, that she was very glad to
take advantage of so good a custom, and then hastened to pay her
respects to Mrs. Singleton and to commence her task of tea-making.
When Mr. Gage came in, he looked surprised to see Margaret in Harriet's
place, coldly expressed his regret when he was told the reason;
commended Miss Capel's superior prudence of the preceding evening, and
then sat down quietly to his breakfast, and appeared to dismiss the
subject from his mind.
During the day all the people who had been staying in the house, dropped
off, one by one. Mr. Evan Conway took himself to some friend's house at
the other end of the county. Mr. Gage and Mr. Humphries went out
riding; and Margaret devoted herself to her friend.
At dinner, Mr. Gage did not condescend to make the commonest enquiries
respecting Harriet's progress, which Margaret thought very ill-bred. But
Mr. Humphries made up for his want of civility.
Mr. Singleton, who was very fond of this young man, made the approaching
ball, an excuse for asking him to stay in the house for a short time;
and Mr. Humphries, nothing loth to exchange for a while the crabbed
society of his honoured mother for that of two pretty and accomplished
women, accepted with readiness.
Margaret passed the evening with Harriet, who appeared much better, and
in high spirits. She exhibited to Margaret her ball-dress. A black net,
trimmed with clusters of carnations, with all the costly et ceteras of
her toilet.
"You are always effective in your dress," said Margaret, looking at the
gold net-work which Harriet was to wear on her head.
"That is the secret," said Harriet, "some people love to be in the
fashion. Others think it distinguished to be plain; but give me effect.
There is a great deal of sly effect in your white crape and blush roses,
little one."
For Mason, with her usual prudence, had anticipated the materials for a
ball dress, which she was now preparing with much skill and contentment.
Harriet took up her guitar and sang Margaret a Spanish song, then
handing her the instrument, she bade her go on with the concert.
Margaret began a Barcarolle--presently a loud knock at the door.
"Olà! what now?" exclaimed Harriet.
"May we come in?" asked Mr. Singleton, putting his head in at the door.
"What is the meaning of We?" asked Harriet.
"Humphries and your humble servant," replied Mr. Singleton, almost
shutting his head off in the door as he spoke.
"Well, I don't know! eh, Margaret?--Yes," returned Harriet, glancing
round her boudoir. The maid had removed the ball dresses, and the room
was very fit for a reception.
Mr. Humphries followed Mr. Singleton with a step much as if he were
treading on eggs, and was very sorry for it.
Harriet held out her hand. "How glad I am to see you again, Mr.
Humphries. I hope you are come to engage me to dance with you on
Thursday."
Mr. Humphries smiled amazingly at this reception.
"Yes. I--I'm glad," he said, by way of reply.
"Well, but about the dancing," said Harriet eagerly.
"Oh! Will you dance the second quadrille with me, Miss Conway?"
"With pleasure, on one condition. That you will tell me who you have
engaged for the first?"
A wide smile, but no answer.
"Well, Mr. Humphries, you are not going to be so rude as to refuse my
request. I know I am to keep it secret. Come, tell me."
"I can't," returned Mr. Humphries, going through several convulsive
movements.
"Is he not ill-natured, uncle Singleton?" asked Harriet, "I am sure I
would tell Mr. Humphries, if I knew who was to be my first partner."
"But you will dance with me all the same?" asked Mr. Humphries.
"Well, I will then," said Harriet laughing; "but I am very angry with
you."
Margaret had laid down the guitar and was standing in the Tudor window,
pulling the dry leaves from the geraniums. Mr. Humphries joined her.
"Gage is down stairs with Mrs. Singleton," he said.
"So I thought," returned Margaret.
"They are playing at chess together."
"Are they, indeed!"
"Do you like chess, Miss Capel?"
"Not very much, Mr. Humphries."
"No more do I."
"Ha! ha! there's sympathy," cried Harriet, leaning back in her chair to
gain a full view of them among the geraniums.
Mr. Singleton laughed heartily, and told Harriet not to spoil sport.
Mr. Humphries coloured, and tried to get more effectually behind the
flower stands.
"Miss Conway is always laughing at one," he said.
Margaret could not deny it.
"But what I was going to say," remarked Mr. Humphries, coming close to
Margaret and whispering. "Will you dance the first quadrille with me?"
"With pleasure," said Margaret, smiling.
"Thank you--you see I could not tell Miss Conway just now, because I did
not know myself, till I had asked you."
"No, you could not, indeed."
"Well, I'm going now," he exclaimed, suddenly taking her hand. "God
bless you!"
"Did you sneeze, Margaret?" asked Harriet, turning quickly round.
Mr. Humphries was walking fast to the door.
Margaret supposed the explanation was meant as a farewell, for he
stopped at the door, said "good night!" accompanied by an extraordinary
nod of the head, and vanished.
"That is one of the best fellows that ever lived," said Mr. Singleton,
nodding at the door through which Mr. Humphries had departed.
"What do you say to that assertion, Margaret?" asked Harriet, looking
mischievously at her.
"I will take Mr. Singleton's word for it," replied Margaret, with her
usual calmness.
"But he is not the best dancer that ever lived, Uncle Singleton," said
Harriet, laughing, "as Margaret will find to her cost. Come, he has set
you a very good example. Vanish! and good night to you. And, uncle," she
added, calling him back, "had you not better, in the course of the
evening, take an opportunity to ask Mr. Humphries his intentions?"
Mr. Singleton was well used to Harriet's jests; he laughed, shook his
head, and left the room.