from their mistress the maids disappeared
to change their gowns, while Grizel herself picked her way carefully up
the staircase. Then her French maid spread a sheet over the floor in
the dressing-room, and Mrs Beverley stepped out of her dress. She
looked about eighteen in her petticoat, and as slight as an elf, yet
there wasn't a bone to be seen. "So different from my gridiron chest!"
said Miss Hunter, with a sigh. And then? Well, then she rubbed the
plaster off her hair, but it still looked all white and _poudree_, and
stayed that way all evening,--so becoming! and the maid came in with
another beautiful gown--green this time, and she was all fastened up and
ready, almost as soon as the guests themselves. Then the fun began.

A number of bridge tables were produced, spread with white cloths, and
arranged round the drawing-room, while an oak bench from the hall did
duty as sideboard. It was like a dinner in a restaurant,--much better
fun than sitting round an ordinary table, and everyone was so amused and
excited that the evening went with a roar. When the dessert stage was
reached, two of the men volunteered for rescue service, shed their coats
in the hall, and extricated the most promising dishes, the contents of
which, having been carefully cleansed, were welcomed with loud cheers by
the rest of the party. "I never," concluded Miss Hunter gleefully, "was
so rowdy in my life!"

"Fancy having enough spoons and forks to go round a second time!" was
the Chumley maiden's practical comment. After a moment's pause, she
asked eagerly: "And was Captain Peignton very attentive to Teresa?"

"He was not sitting at the same table." Miss Hunter, paused in her
turn, and added in a reflective voice: "I don't remember seeing him
speak to her the whole evening."

In truth Dane was not a demonstrative lover. The fact was patent to
Teresa herself, and in the depths of her heart she acknowledged a lack.
Her own nature was not demonstrative; with her own family her manner was
indifferent almost to callousness, but with Dane she felt capable of a
great tenderness. She wished that he would be more tender to her; that
when they were alone together his manner of affectionate raillery would
change to something deeper. She wished above all things that he would
speak of his love. Mary's questionings on the night of her sister's
betrothal had had something to do with awakening this longing, for when
Teresa came to think over w