A kindly-mannered and benign-looking old man, he received Jerry in his cosy dining-room with considerable warmth, and the handsome Bella fairly blushed with pleasure on seeing her acknowledged admirer; and Jerry, when he saw the rare beauty of the girl, thought how thankful he should be that the widow had not accepted him! At Wilmothurst Bella enjoyed the reputation of being the best organiser of pleasant picnics in the sunny summer-time, the great designer of games and charades at Christmastide, the most tasteful decorator of the village church for festivals, a kind friend to the poor and all the little ones of the hamlet. Yet none shone brighter or better at the balls in Brighton or elsewhere out of her narrow home circle; she was a dashing horsewoman in the field; but seemed always most in her element when seated over some piece of feminine work by her old father's side, as Jerry now found her, in the flower-scented and lamp-lit little dining-room surrounded by all the home influences her presence caused. Jerry knew now precisely how Bella was viewed by his mother and cousin, and this repressed--if not his ardour--the scope of his attentions. The haughty Bella also knew from a thousand petty instances how Lady Julia Wilmot viewed her position in society, and resented it accordingly, for she was one of the many in and about Wilmothurst who had felt the sting of that lady's 'snub,' and were against her in consequence. Thus her first thought had been to decline the invitation to the ball, which had reached her that forenoon. Then on consideration came the knowledge that to do so would cause much local speculation, that many might infer she had not been invited at all, and that by her absence she would lose the society of Jerry for a whole night; and the girl's natural desire to outshine--as she knew she would do--so many there, if not all who would be present, led her to write an acceptance. She had done so, and at once began the serious consideration of her costume--serious only as to the variety to select from, for her father was a rich man--richer than Lady Julia Wilmot had the least idea of. 'You are coming to our ball, of course, Miss Chevenix?' said Jerry. 'The invitation just reached me to-day, and I have not yet posted an acceptance.' 'But you will come, of course,' urged Jerry, looking admiringly into her bright laughing eyes. 'I am not quite certain,' faltered Bella, and paused. 'Oh, nonsense, she will be there readily enough,' said her father; adding--'I think I may be pardoned for saying it, Mr. Wilmot, but my Bella will be the belle of the ball. However, leave us just now, dear. Mr. Wilmot has come to see me on business, I doubt not, and that won't be interesting to you.'