At this offer, a strange shyness, and as it were reluctant distrust, seized Maltravers--a kind of presentiment of danger and evil. He drew back, and would have made some excuse, but Lady Latimer did not heed his embarrassment, and was already by the side of Lady Florence Lascelles. A moment more, and beckoning to Maltravers, the countess presented him to the lady. As he bowed and seated himself beside his new acquaintance, he could not but observe that her cheeks were suffused with the most lively blushes, and that she received him with a confusion not common even in ladies just brought out, and just introduced to "a lion." He was rather puzzled than flattered by these tokens of an embarrassment, somewhat akin to his own; and the first few sentences of their conversation passed off with a certain awkwardness and reserve. At this moment, to the surprise, perhaps to the relief, of Ernest, they were joined by Lumley Ferrers. "Ah, Lady Florence, I kiss your hands--I am charmed to find you acquainted with my friend Maltravers." "And Mr. Ferrers, what makes him so late to-night?" asked the fair Florence, with a sudden ease, which rather startled Maltravers. "A dull dinner, /voila tout/--I have no other excuse." And Ferrers, sliding into a vacant chair on the other side of Lady Florence, conversed volubly and unceasingly, as if seeking to monopolise her attention. Ernest had not been so much captivated with the manner of Florence as he had been struck with her beauty, and now, seeing her apparently engaged with another, he rose and quietly moved away. He was soon one of a knot of men who were conversing on the absorbing topics of the day; and as by degrees the exciting subject brought out his natural eloquence and masculine sense, the talkers became listeners, the knot widened into a circle, and he himself was unconsciously the object of general attention and respect. "And what think you of Mr. Maltravers?" asked Ferrers, carelessly; "does he keep up your expectations?" Lady Florence had sunk into a reverie, and Ferrers repeated his question. "He is younger than I imagined him,--and--and--" "Handsomer, I suppose, you mean." "No! calmer and less animated." "He seems animated enough now," said Ferrers; "but your ladylike conversation failed in striking the Promethean spark. 'Lay that flattering unction to your soul.'" "Ah, you are right--he must have thought me very--" "Beautiful, no doubt." "Beautiful!--I hate the word, Lumley. I wish I were not handsome--I might then get some credit for my intellect." "Humph!" said Ferrers, significantly. "Oh, you don't think so, sceptic," said Florence, shaking her head with a slight laugh, and an altered manner. "Does it matter what I think," said Ferrers, with an attempted touch at the sentimental, "when Lord This, and Lord That, and Mr. So-and-so, and Count What-d'ye-call-him, are all making their way to you, to dispossess me of my envied monopoly?"