"Very modest on your part; but I hear the gentlemen coming, so I must leave this charming footstool, or I shall be accused of fifty things. Here in this corner is room for two, so let us continue our conversation." "Everything is so new to me," said Margaret, as she surveyed the room lit up with clusters of lamps, the heavy crimson curtains, the splendid gilt furniture, and the groups of gentlemen standing about the lady's chairs, drinking coffee, "this seems to me a very grand party; but perhaps it appears to you nothing." "An ordinary dinner party," said Harriet; "perhaps they run rather large at this house. Uncle Gage, have you quite made up your book? Because I shall be happy to offer you odds upon Rory O'More." Captain Gage who was passing with Sir Evan Conway, stopped short before the two girls. "I will have nothing to do with you," he said to Harriet, "you are far too deep for me. I believe you are hand in glove with Lord Raymond's groom." Sir Evan and Captain Gage both laughed very much at this charge. Harriet with a deepened colour protested against having ever seen the groom, or the horse. Captain Gage turned to Margaret, and asked if she had been taking lessons in the science of book-making; adding, "that as she must be a novice as yet, he was willing to risk a pair of gloves with her." Margaret said "she was not going to bet at all; that Bessy had advised her not." "Bessy is a prude," said Captain Gage, looking much pleased, "you should never mind anything she says to you." Margaret laughed, and shook her head, and the gentlemen passed on. Then Hubert Gage made his way to the sofa, and began to rally Harriet and Margaret upon the retired spot they had chosen, admired Margaret's fan, and Harriet's gloves, and in fact went on as young men generally do when they wish to render themselves agreeable; in the midst of which discourse, Mr. Haveloc walked straight up to Margaret, and without any prologue, begged to have the honour of dancing the first quadrille with her the next evening. Margaret blushed and consented, and Mr. Haveloc bowed and walked away, while Hubert Gage drawing a chair close to the sofa, dropped into it and laughed immoderately. "I never knew such a fellow," he exclaimed, "just at the moment that I was gaining courage to make such a request, he must needs step forwards and cut me out. It is too bad--don't you pity me? The second quadrille then, if you have any compassion." "Mr. Hubert," said Blanche Somerton coming up, "we want your help so very much in this glee of Gödbe's. Will you take the tenor part?" "Oh! if I am wanted," said Hubert, rising. "Miss Capel, I do not mean to stir without your answer." "The second quadrille?" said Margaret. "Exactly; unless you prefer the first Mazourka." "Oh! but you do not know the Mazourka." "No; but you can teach me so nicely in the morning." "I will not undertake you," said Margaret laughing.