didates for admiration
that had preceded her; yet she paused, remembering her mother's words, and,
with a kind of anxious, fearful gaze, that fell like a veil over the
exultation and gaiety of her features, she looked an appeal to the lady
who was her guide, or ought to have been.

"Really, my dear, I don't know what to say; but as the thing is new, if
you are not quite _au fait_, you will be pardoned, and Sir Theodore is so
admirable a partner, I really think you may venture to try."

Matilda, in a calmer moment, would have seen how totally distinct her
ladyship's fears were from those of her mother; but the flutter of her
spirits, the demands of her vanity, and the address of her partner,
combined to hurry her forward, and she found herself in the midst of the
group before she was aware: it was then too late to recede: the motion for
a short time restored her spirits; but as the arm of Sir Theodore encircled
her waist, deep confusion overwhelmed her, she blushed to a degree that was
absolutely painful; and though unable, in the hurry of the motion, to
entertain a positive reflection, yet a thousand thoughts seemed to press
at once for admittance, all tinged with self-reproach; and at length,
unable to endure them, she suddenly laid her hand upon her forehead, and
ran, or rather reeled, to her seat.

As it was the nature of the dance to produce the sensation of dizziness,
this circumstance excited no particular attention, and her partner merely
rallied her upon it, with that air of _badinage_ young men now-a-days
pretty generally adopt. Every word he uttered was distressing to Matilda,
who felt as if she were insulted by his freedom, and had degraded herself
too far to enjoy the right of resenting it; her native pride, however,
contending with her self-condemnation, she removed her hand from her eyes,
in order to give him a look which would repel his impertinence, and, to her
utter astonishment, saw three gentlemen standing before, and looking
earnestly upon her; two of these were her friends, Edmund and Charles
Harewood.

The moment she looked up, the first withdrew, but Charles and the stranger
advanced; they did not, however, find it very easy to approach her, guarded
as she was by the officious Sir Theodore; but as Charles was not easily
balked in any intention he had formed, he succeeded in inquiring after her
health, and introducing his friend Mr. Belmont to her.

"I am very glad--I mean I did not know you we