h
her keen piercing eyes watching John, who was reading the newspaper by
the table. She was pleased to see him lay it aside, look up, and smile,
as the two friends entered, but she could have beaten them both, the one
for her insignificance, and the other for her radiant loveliness; and
she was still further provoked to see Miss Brandon sit down as near
her mother as possible, while Violet went up to him to show him her
bracelet. She stood by him for some little time, while he was examining
and praising it, and congratulating her on the choice bouquet that
Harrison had bestowed on her, but surprised to see her eyes cast
pensively down, and a grave look on that fair young face. He little
suspected that she was saddened by the contrast between her joys and his
sorrow and ill health, and thought it unkind to speak of her delight to
one so far removed from it.

Theodora began to indulge in a hearty grumbling.

'Well, my dear,' said Mrs. Nesbit, 'you will only show yourselves there,
and go home. Miss Brandon is not more inclined to Whitford balls than
you are.'

'No, I am rather surprised at having dragged Emma so far,' said Lady
Elizabeth. 'I hope they will both find it turn out better than they
expect. You must teach them,' and she looked smilingly at Violet.

Mrs. Nesbit was extremely annoyed at the quantity of notice Violet had
lately received, and was the more resolved to put her down. 'No one can
expect them to like country balls,' she said. 'One attends them as a
duty, for the sake of the neighbourhood; but as to pleasure in them,
that is only for the young ladies of the place on the look-out for the
military.'

She had fulfilled her purpose of making every one uncomfortable, except
one--namely, Violet. John looked at her, and perceived she was too
innocent and clear in conscience to understand or appropriate the taunt,
so he thought it better to leave the field open to Lady Elizabeth's calm
reply, 'Well, I used to enjoy country balls very much in my time.'

Arthur evaporated his indignation by shaking his foot, and murmuring,
not so low but that his sister heard it, 'Old hag!'

Lord and Lady Martindale came in together, and Violet's blushing
gratitude was so pretty and bright that it made Lord Martindale smile,
and silence it by a kiss, which perhaps surprised and gratified her more
than the bracelet did.

Lady Elizabeth begged to have her in her carriage; and growing intimate
in the sociable darkness, she