Edmund, though he heard not a word of what Frances was very kindly saying to him about not having danced, yet heard every word of Lord Borrowdale's speech. All the blood in his system seemed to rush to his face, it suffused even his forehead, and mounted to the very roots of his hair. "In a day or two! In a day or two!" he repeated to himself. "So public, so ascertained a thing, that other men think themselves at liberty to speak to her on the subject in this free and careless manner!" Lady Susan, whirling over at the moment, almost fell against Edmund's arm, on which, laughing at the reeling of her head, she rested a finger to steady herself. Her ladyship was all fair, all soft, and without much form; but, being young, she was by no means forbidding; and her countenance exhibited such a ceaseless sunshine of smiles, and was so much adorned by the undulating movement of its dimples, now deepening, now spreading on rosy cheeks, or playing around ruby lips, that the beholder had no leisure to observe its dumpling contour, or criticise its want of feature. "How fond my brother is of being a beau!" observed Lady Susan to her partner, as Julia and Lord Morven took their places opposite. "His lordship must resign that character shortly, I understand," said Edmund, with effort. "In a day or two, I suppose," replied her ladyship. "You have observed, I dare say, what an admirer he is of his cousin, Lady Julia?" "It is very apparent, certainly," replied Edmund. "There!" exclaimed her ladyship, "so I tell him! I don't know what his wife will say to all this, when she comes!" "His wife!" exclaimed Edmund, unable to trust his ears. "She has no right to complain, to be sure!" continued Lady Susan, "for she is an unconscionable flirt herself!" "His wife!" again reiterated Edmund. "Yes, his wife," she repeated. "So, then, Lord Morven is a married man!" said Edmund. "Is there any thing so very astonishing in that?" demanded her ladyship. "No--oh no," he stammered out. "Lady Morven is expected here in a few days,--that is, if she does not disappoint, as usual," continued Lady Susan. "In a few days!" repeated Edmund. "Did you then think my brother so very disagreeable, or ugly, or what, that he could not get a wife?" she asked, laughing.