he is led to suppose that she has a distaste for foreign places.

Condescending to attempt to please, which he has reason to wish to
succeed in doing, the task of pursuing conversational intercourse
devolves upon him--

'I missed Parlatti last spring. What opinion have you formed of her?'

'I know her only by name at present.'

'Ah, I fancy you are indifferent to Opera.'

'Not at all; I enjoy it. I was as busy then as I am now.'

'Meetings? Dorcas, so forth.'

'Not Dorcas, I assure you. You might join if you would.'

'Your most obliged.'

A period perfectly rounded. At the same time Miss Mattock exchanged a
smile with her hostess, of whose benignant designs in handing her to the
entertaining officer she was not conscious. She felt bound to look happy
to gratify an excellent lady presiding over the duller half of a table
of eighteen. She turned slightly to Captain O'Donnell. He had committed
himself to speech at last, without tilting his shoulders to exclude the
company by devoting himself to his partner, and as he faced the table
Miss Mattock's inclination to listen attracted him. He cast his eyes on
her: a quiet look, neither languid nor frigid seeming to her both open
and uninviting. She had the oddest little shiver, due to she knew
not what. A scrutiny she could have borne, and she might have read a
signification; but the look of those mild clear eyes which appeared
to say nothing save that there was fire behind them, hit on some
perplexity, or created it; for she was aware of his unhappy passion for
the beautiful Miss Adister; the whole story had been poured into her
ears; she had been moved by it. Possibly she had expected the eyes
of such a lover to betray melancholy, and his power of containing the
expression where the sentiment is imagined to be most transparent may
have surprised her, thrilling her as melancholy orbs would not have
done.

Captain Con could have thumped his platter with vexation. His wife's
diplomacy in giving the heiress to Colonel Adister for the evening
had received his cordial support while he manoeuvred cleverly to place
Philip on the other side of her; and now not a step did the senseless
fellow take, though she offered him his chance, dead sick of her man on
the right; not a word did he have in ordinary civility; he was a burning
disgrace to the chivalry of Erin. She would certainly be snapped up by
a man merely yawning to take the bite. And there's another opportunity
gone fo