ance, Lady Mary was doomed to be made once
more uncomfortable by the proceedings of her first-born.

She listened in somewhat _distrait_ fashion to a flood of anecdote and
small-talk that Mr. Cottrell was pouring into her ears; for she felt
intuitively that Jim was canvassing the whole party on the subject of
this abominable ball with an ardour worthy of a better cause. She had
seen him talking and laughing with Mrs. Sartoris, and knew that he had
confirmed that lady in her iniquity. Now he was talking with the
Misses Evesham, and she felt convinced that those flabby-minded damsels
had admitted that they should like to be present, although not half an
hour ago they had assured her that they detested all such "omnium
gatherums." If she could but have got hold of Jim and told him that
there were particular reasons why the Grange party should not attend
upon this occasion! but no, Pansey Cottrell was entertaining her with a
scandalous and apparently interminable narrative of the doings of one
of her friends, and she felt she had been as effectually buttonholed as
if she were the victim of the Ancient Mariner.

Suddenly a "Confound it, Jim, do hold your tongue!" from the
whist-table caught her ear. "You deuced near made me revoke. What on
earth makes you so red hot about this ball?" And the Squire
mechanically looked round to his wife for telegraphic guidance as to
what line he was to take.

By a sudden shifting of Mr. Pansey Cottrell's chair that gentleman's
form intercepted the slight bending of the brows and shake of the head
that replied to her husband's look of inquiry.

"The proper thing to do, sir," resumed Jim; "residents in the vicinity
of Commonstone must support Commonstone festivities. The Todborough
contingent must show up on such an occasion, and the Todborough
contingent must show with its chief at its head. Who knows but you may
want to contest the county again some of these days? and if you don't,
why, perhaps I shall. I assure you I have a very pretty talent for
public speaking--at least, so our fellows all say. Isn't it so,
Braybrooke?"

"Oh, I don't quite know about that," was the reply. "We give you
credit for unlimited 'cheek' when on your legs after supper, and that's
about as far as we can give you a character."

"Well, I don't know; we always do go. I suppose we ought to go this
time; but there's no necessity for all this hurry. The ball is not
until the day after to-morrow." An