"Of course my sister Amy will be happy to see Lord Worcester to-night," said I aloud, in answer to what I read in Leinster's countenance. Lord Worcester bowed, and looked rather confused than pleased. "Do come, my lord," said Fanny, who liked what she had seen of his lordship extremely. To Leinster's joy and our astonishment, Lord Worcester said he must really decline my very polite offer, grateful as he felt for it. "Nonsense!" exclaimed Deerhurst. "What a very odd fellow you are! I really cannot make you out. I give you my honour, Harriette," continued his lordship, "that, not an hour ago, he declared he would give half his existence to sit near you and talk to you for an hour, and now you invite him to pass the evening in your society, he appears to be frightened to death at the idea!" "You are all alike; a set of cruel wicked deceivers," said I, carelessly, being really indifferent as to the impression it made on Lord Worcester, who, in his eagerness to exculpate himself from this charge of caprice, blushed deeply and evinced considerable agitation. "No indeed, I beg, I do entreat that you will not, you must not imagine this. I have a particular reason for not going to your sister's; but it would be impertinent in a stranger like me to take up your time by an explanation: only pray acquit me. Do not send me away so very unhappy; for you must know, I am sure you must, that the indifference of which you accuse me would be impossible, quite impossible, to any man." "What is the matter with you, young gentleman?" said I, looking at him with much curiosity, "and why do you lay such a stress on trifles light as air?" "To you, perhaps," observed Worcester, trying to laugh, from a fear of seeming ridiculous. "There is a pretty race-horse little head for you!" said Deerhurst, touching my hair. "I never saw such beautiful hair," Worcester remarked timidly. "Put your fingers into it," said Deerhurst. "Harriette does not mind how you tumble her hair about." "I should richly deserve to be turned out of the box were I to do anything so very impertinent," interrupted his lordship. "Oh, no," said I, leaning the back of my little head towards Worcester, "anybody may pull my hair about. I like it, and I am no prude." Worcester ventured to touch my hair in fear and trembling, and the touch seemed to affect him like electricity. Without vanity, and in very truth, let him deny it if he can, I never saw a boy or a man more madly, wildly, and romantically in love with any daughter of Eve in my whole life. "Come with me," said Deerhurst to Leinster. "Remember your promise," Leinster whispered to me, as he unwillingly followed his lordship. "May I," said Lord Worcester eagerly, as though he dreaded an interruption, "may I, on my return to town, venture to pay my respects?" "Certainly," answered I, "if I am in town; but we are going to Brighton."