rtly, perhaps, because Nan alone
took the trouble to humour all her mysterious nerve-miseries; while her
sisters tolerated her, though they thought her unsocial. Even this
dress, when it did appear--and a thousand times Nan had inwardly prayed
that it might not be ready in time--was quite as pretty as theirs. It
was very pretty indeed; but somehow, Nan, as she regarded herself in
the big mirror, convinced herself that there was not enough of her to
carry off a ball-dress. Her sisters had a certain 'presence' that a
grand costume became. She thought she was too thin--that she looked
more like a school-girl than ever; and she wished that she were not
freckled. When, at last, she was in the carriage with the others--Mr.
Thomas had gone in a hansom rather than ride with the coachman--she
said, cunningly,

'Mamma, dear, I am sure you will be excited with speaking to so many
old friends; and you know your nerves cannot stand it. Let me sit by
you, and take as much of the talk as I can. I really don't care to
dance. I would rather not dance. I would far rather sit by you,
mamma. And I am sure it is not necessary for us to stay long; it will
do you such a deal of harm.'

Lady Beresford sighed.

'When one has grown-up daughters----,' she said almost to herself.

'Mamma, dear,' said Nan, eagerly, 'would you rather stay at home?
Wouldn't you rather stay at home? and I will keep you company----'

'Don't be silly, child,' said her eldest sister. 'Do you think your
dress cost nothing?'

The worst time of all was the waiting in Spring Gardens, where there
was a block of carriages. It was all darkness, and expectation, and
the hopeless sense that, being imprisoned in this slowly moving line,
there was no escape. But when they were once at the entrance, and when
Nan got a glimpse at the hall, her courage revived wonderfully. There
was such a crowd of people--coming, going, waiting, looking for
friends, and arranging dresses--that she felt that she could slip into
this self-interested throng, and be lost from observation altogether.
She began to be forgetful of herself. When they were going up the
stairs she heard names after names announced that she was quite
familiar with--either through the newspapers or through the
conversation at luncheon-tables; and she was almost anxious to get
quickly up to have a glimpse at these celebrated people. When she got
to the landing, she did not see Lady Stratherne at all; for he