d Eveleen, turning away
from him with a very droll arch manner of offended dignity.

'Hear, hear! Eveleen send any one to Coventry!' cried Charles. 'See what
the regiment say to you.'

'Ay, when I am sent to Coventry?'

'O, Paddy, Paddy!' cried Charles, and there was a general laugh.

'Laura seems to be doing it in good earnest without announcing it,'
added Charles, when the laugh was over, 'which is the worst sign of
all.'

'Nonsense, Charles,' said Laura, hastily; then afraid she had owned to
annoyance, she blushed and was angry with herself for blushing.

'Well, Laura, _do_ tell me who your partners were?'

Very provoking, thought Laura, that I cannot say what is so perfectly
natural and ordinary, without my foolish cheeks tingling. He may think
it is because he is speaking to me. So she hurried on: 'Maurice first,
then Philip,' and then showed, what Amy and Eveleen thought, strange
oblivion of the rest of her partners.

They proceeded into the history of the ball; and Guy thought no more of
his offences till the following day, when he went to Broadstone. Coming
back, he found the drawing-room full of visitors, and was obliged to
sit down and join in the conversation; but Mrs. Edmonstone saw he was
inwardly chafing, as he betrayed by his inability to remain still, the
twitchings of his forehead and lip, and a tripping and stumbling of the
words on his tongue. She was sure he wanted to talk to her, and longed
to get rid of Mrs. Brownlow; but the door was no sooner shut on the
visitors, than Mr. Edmonstone came in, with a long letter for her
to read and comment upon. Guy took himself out of the way of the
consultation, and began to hurry up and down the terrace, until, seeing
Amabel crossing the field towards the little gate into the garden, he
went to open it for her.

She looked up at him, and exclaimed--'Is anything the matter?'

'Nothing to signify,' he said; 'I was only waiting for your mother. I
have got into a mess, that is all.'

'I am sorry,' began Amy, there resting in the doubt whether she might
inquire further, and intending not to burthen him with her company, any
longer than till she reached the house door; but Guy went on,--

'No, you have no occasion to be sorry; it is all my own fault; at least,
if I was clear how it is my fault, I should not mind it so much. It
is that ball. I am sure I had not the least notion any one would care
whether I was there or not.'

'I am sure we missed you v