er with Mrs Dale," said Crosbie.

"If you and she understand each other," said the squire, "that will
be sufficient. Shall we go into the drawing-room now, or out upon the
lawn?"

That evening, as Crosbie went to bed, he felt that he had not gained
the victory in his encounter with the squire.

CHAPTER VIII

It Cannot Be

On the following morning at breakfast each of the three gentlemen at
the Great House received a little note on pink paper, nominally from
Mrs Dale, asking them to drink tea at the Small House on that day
week. At the bottom of the note which Lily had written for Mr Crosbie
was added: "Dancing on the lawn, if we can get anybody to stand up.
Of course you must come, whether you like it or not. And Bernard
also. Do your possible to talk my uncle into coming." And this note
did something towards re-creating good-humour among them at the
breakfast-table. It was shown to the squire, and at last he was
brought to say that he would perhaps go to Mrs Dale's little
evening-party.

It may be well to explain that this promised entertainment had been
originated with no special view to the pleasure of Mr Crosbie, but
altogether on behalf of poor Johnny Eames. What was to be done in
that matter? This question had been fully discussed between Mrs Dale
and Bell, and they had come to the conclusion that it would best to
ask Johnny over to a little friendly gathering, in which he might be
able to meet Lily with some strangers around them. In this way his
embarrassment might be overcome. It would never do, as Mrs Dale said,
that he should be suffered to stay away, unnoticed by them. "When
the ice is once broken he won't mind it," said Bell. And, therefore,
early in the day, a messenger was sent over to Guestwick, who
returned with a note from Mrs Eames, saying that she would come on
the evening in question, with her son and daughter. They would keep
the fly and get back to Guestwick the same evening. This was added,
as an offer had been made of beds for Mrs Eames and Mary.

Before the evening of the party another memorable occurrence had
taken place at Allington, which must be described, in order that the
feelings of the different people on that evening may be understood.
The squire had given his nephew to understand that he wished to have
that matter settled as to his niece Bell; and as Bernard's views were
altogether in accordance with the squire's, he resolved to comply
with his uncle's wishes. The pr