Rachel than a hope that he might meet
her at the next Torquay ball.

"I never go to public balls," said Rachel.

"But why not, Miss Ray?" said Walter.

"I never went to a dance of any description before this."

"But now that you've begun of course you'll go on." Mr. Cornbury's
flirtation never reached a higher pitch than that.

When he had got as far as that Luke Rowan played him a trick,--an
inhospitable trick, seeing that he, Rowan, was in some sort at home,
and that the people about him were bound to obey him. He desired
the musicians to strike up again while the elders were eating their
supper,--and then claimed Rachel's hand, so that he might have the
pleasure of serving her with cold chicken and champagne.

"Miss Ray is going into supper with me," said Cornbury.

"But supper is not ready," said Rowan, "and Miss Ray is engaged to
dance with me."

"Quite a mistake on your part," said Cornbury.

"No mistake at all," said Rowan.

"Indeed it is. Come, Miss Ray, we'll take a turn down into the hall,
and see if places are ready for us." Cornbury rather despised Rowan,
as being a brewer and mechanical; and probably he showed that he did
so.

"Places are not ready, so you need not trouble Miss Ray to go down as
yet. But a couple is wanted for a quadrille, and therefore I'm sure
she'll stand up."

"Come along, Rachel," said Cherry. "We just want you. This will be
the nicest of all, because we shall have room."

Rachel had become unhappy seeing that the two men were in earnest.
Had not Cherry spoken she would have remained with Mr. Cornbury,
thinking that to be her safer conduct; but Cherry's voice had
overpowered her, and she gave her arm to young Rowan, moving away
with slow, hesitating step.

"Of course Miss Ray will do as she pleases," said Cornbury.

"Of course she will," said Rowan.

"I am so sorry," said Rachel, "but I was engaged, and it seems I am
really wanted." Walter Cornbury bowed very stiffly, and there was an
end of his flirtation. "That's the sort of thing that always happens
when a fellow comes among this sort of people!" It was thus he
consoled himself as he went down solitary to his supper.

"That's all right," said Rowan; "now we've Cherry for our vis-a-vis,
and after that we'll go down to supper comfortably."

"But I said I'd go with him."

"You can't now, for he has gone without you. What a brick Cherry is!
Do you know what she said of you?"

"No; do tell me."

"I won't. It