At length, however, she was comforted, and her pacification completely effected by Sir George setting her down to a whist-table. From this moment I lost sight of her for above two hours. Meanwhile I had little opportunity of following up my intimacy with Miss Dashwood, and as I rather suspected that, on more than one occasion, she seemed to avoid our meeting, I took especial care on my part, to spare her the annoyance. For one instant only had I any opportunity of addressing her, and then there was such an evident embarrassment in her manner that I readily perceived how she felt circumstanced, and that the sense of gratitude to one whose further advances she might have feared, rendered her constrained and awkward. “Too true,” said I, “she avoids me. My being here is only a source of discomfort and pain to her; therefore, I’ll take my leave, and whatever it may cost me, never to return.” With this intention, resolving to wish Sir George a very good night, I sought him out for some minutes. At length I saw him in a corner, conversing with the old nobleman to whom he had presented me early in the evening. “True, upon my honor, Sir George,” said he; “I saw it myself, and she did it just as dexterously as the oldest blackleg in Paris.” “Why, you don’t mean to say that she cheated?” “Yes, but I do, though,--turned the ace every time. Lady Herbert said to me, ‘Very extraordinary it is,--four by honors again.’ So I looked, and then I perceived it,--a very old trick it is; but she did it beautifully. What’s her name?” “Some western name; I forget it,” said the poor general, ready to die with shame. “Clever old woman, very!” said the old lord, taking a pinch of snuff; “but revokes too often.” Supper was announced at this critical moment, and before I had further thought of my determination to escape, I felt myself hurried along in the crowd towards the staircase. The party immediately in front of me were Power and Miss Macan, who now appeared reconciled, and certainly testified most openly their mutual feelings of good-will. “I say, Charley,” whispered Power, as I came along, “it is capital fun,--never met anything equal to her; but the poor general will never live through it, and I’m certain of ten day’s arrest for this night’s proceeding.” “Any news of Webber?” I inquired. “Oh, yes, I fancy I can tell something of him; for I heard of some one presenting himself, and being refused the _entrée_, so that Master Frank has lost his money. Sit near us, I pray you, at supper. We must take care of the dear aunt for the niece’s sake, eh?”