“Oscar, Oscar—take care! Do not speak so loud. What would people think of you, were you to be heard? Someone may tell Marie, and make her repent her disinterested conduct towards you—she does not deserve to be made unhappy, especially by you?” “What did you say, sir?” cried Raimund, speaking angrily, across Hildegarde to Hamilton. “I have not had time to say anything,” he replied, laughing. “But you looked as if you agreed with my cousin?” “My looks are expressive, it seems,” said Hamilton, coolly. “Perhaps you intend to inform my betrothed of what I have just now said?” cried Raimund, still more angrily. “My acquaintance with her is of too recent a date to admit of my doing so.” “Do you mean deliberately to insult me?” asked Raimund, in a voice of suppressed rage. “No, Oscar,” cried Hildegarde, laying her hand hastily on his arm. “It is you who are endeavouring to commence a quarrel with Mr. Hamilton. You feel that you are in the wrong, and that you ought not to have made such a remark in public of a person to whom you are to be married in less than a week.” “_You_ may say what you please to me, Hildegarde, but neither Mr. Hamilton nor anyone else shall dare by word or look to imply——” Hamilton turned away with a smile of unequivocal contempt. “What do you mean, sir?” cried Raimund, starting from his seat, and facing him while he folded his arms. “I mean that this is no place for such words—still less for such gestures,” replied Hamilton, glancing round him. The loudness of the music, however, had prevented them from being heard. “Oscar,” cried Hildegarde, vehemently, “sit down beside me. Listen to me—you _must_ listen to me. You are altogether in the wrong—you are rude and irritating, and ought to be ashamed of yourself. Do not try Mr. Hamilton’s patience further.” “I have no intention of doing so,” said Raimund, biting his lip, and frowning fearfully. Hildegarde looked anxiously, first on her cousin and then at Hamilton, to whom she said in a low voice: “I don’t know which is most to be feared, your coolness—or Oscar’s ungovernable temper! But this I have determined, that neither shall stir from this place until a reconciliation has taken place. You, Oscar, are bound to apologise for your unprovoked rudeness, and——” “Ha, ha!” laughed Raimund. “You are a most excellent mediatrix, my charming cousin, but believe me, explanations are better avoided. See, we have already forgotten the whole affair.” Hildegarde looked uneasily towards Hamilton, he appeared to be intently watching the dancers as they flew past him. “It is useless your trying to deceive me,” she began, once more turning to Raimund; but he immediately interrupted her by saying, “Pray, is all this unnecessary anxiety on my account, or—on his?”