"Not I, indeed. I never will submit to own myself wrong to a man before marriage, or after either, if I can help it. Spottiswoode may rue the hour he offended me, for never will I condescend to ask him to return to a woman whom he chooses to leave for such a person as Lady Anna. Any other girl I could have borne patiently. This I will not forgive, for he knew it would vex me! hang me, _à la_ Pynsent, if I do not repay him in kind." "I can be of no further use, Penelope?" "None, Julia, but I thank you for what you have done, though it has proved ineffectual. Do not let me detain you from your party." Julia endeavoured to appease her companion, but her lover's careless indifference gave deep offence to Miss Wycherly, and she persisted in maintaining an equal appearance of light-hearted manner, to deceive and distress Mr. Spottiswoode. She was not long without materials to assist her design; Mr. Henry Tyndal again applying to her, Miss Wycherly accepted him as a partner, and she passed her lover in the country dance with inimitably affected composure and gaiety. How did that really attached couple endeavour to vie with each other in assuming a coldness foreign to their hearts; and how wretchedly did they pass the remainder of the evening in a state of miserable watching and suffering! Miss Wycherly, in her most laughing dialogue with Henry Tyndal, cast perturbed and anxious looks towards Lady Anna Herbert, who was listening with smiling and marked attention to Mr. Spottiswoode's compliments. Her heart felt withered, yet she redoubled her gaiety; Miss Wycherly was almost noisy in her mirth, and the sound of her voice disturbed the serenity of Mr. Spottiswoode, and made him falter in his own sallies. Lady Anna rebuked him. "How now, Mr. Spottiswoode! you have said the same thing three times consecutively. What am I to understand by this absence of ideas?" "You have confounded them, Lady Anna." "I did not flatter myself I had power to confound your learned mind, Mr. Spottiswoode," returned the lady. "I shall not be the first, nor the last, whom your ladyship has confounded; all our heads become turned in your society." "Very well; I declare I shall tell Miss Wycherly how you flirt." "Pray do, Lady Anna; Miss Wycherly is coming down with Mr. Tyndal." "Very well; Miss Wycherly, what do you think Mr. Spottiswoode says?" "Cross hands and back again, and never mind what Mr. Spottiswoode says," said Miss Wycherly. "I am flying down the middle." Away she went. "I saw Miss Wycherly did not touch you in cross hands, Mr. Spottiswoode, but here she comes again." The party made their _poussette_ in high glee, Miss Wycherly appearing wholly engaged in some joke with Henry Tyndal, and Mr. Spottiswoode showering compliments upon Lady Anna. Tom Pynsent and Anna Maria, who stood near the set, and heard the dialogue, were much amused.