Lucinda had, in reality, but one objection to proposing herself as a partner to Colonel Kingswood, and that was, his being just then engaged in conversation with Gordon Fitzsimmons, whom she felt a sort of conscious reluctance to approach. However, she paused a moment, and then summoned courage to join the two gentlemen and proffer her request to the Colonel, even though Fitzsimmons was close at hand. "My dear Miss Mandeville," said Colonel Kingswood, "I confess that I have not courage to avail myself of your very tempting proposal. As my fighting days are now over, I cannot stand the shot of the jealous eyes that will be directed at me from every part of the ball-room." "I have seen you dance," remarked Lucinda, evading the application of his compliment. "True," replied the Colonel, "but you might have observed that I never take out the _young_ ladies--always being so considerate as to leave them to the young gentlemen. I carry my disinterestedness so far as invariably to select partners that are _ni jeune, ni jolie_: notwithstanding the remarks I frequently hear about well-matched pairs, &c." "I am to understand, then," said Lucinda, "that you are mortifying me by a refusal." "Come, now, be honest," returned Colonel Kingswood, "and change the word 'mortify' into _gratify_. But do not turn away. It is customary, you know, when a man is drawn for the militia and is unwilling to serve, to allow him to choose a substitute. Here then is mine. Advance, Mr. Fitzsimmons, and with such a partner I shall expect to see you 'rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury.'" Fitzsimmons came forward with sparkling eyes and a heightened colour, and offered his hand to Lucinda, whose face was suffused even to the temples. There were a few moments of mutual confusion, and neither party uttered a word till they had reached the cotillion. The music commenced as soon as they had taken their places, and Lucinda being desired by her opposite lady to lead, there was no immediate conversation. Our heroine called up all her pride, all her self-command, and all her native buoyancy of spirits; Fitzsimmons did the same, and they managed in the intervals of the dance to talk with so much vivacity, that each was convinced that their secret was still preserved from the other. When the set was over, they returned to the place in which they had left Colonel Kingswood, who received them with a smile. "Well, Miss Mandeville," said he, "what pretty things have you been saying to your partner?" "Ask Mr. Fitzsimmons," replied Lucinda. "Not a single compliment could I extract from her," said Fitzsimmons; "she had not even the grace to imply her gratitude for doing me the honour of dancing with me, or rather, for my doing her the honour. Ah! that is it--is it not? I forgot the present mode of expression. It is so difficult for one night only to get out of the old phraseology. But she certainly expressed no gratitude."