“You put that into her head, you everlasting fool!” cried Eddy. And then with an effort of self-control, or rather with the natural facility of his easy temper, he added, bursting into a laugh, “She’s the stepmother, and they hate her all round. The more she opposes it the more it’s sure to be, so you see there’s more things in heaven and earth, Johnson, than are in your philosophy. What she says is just the thing that will never come to pass. I say, if you’ll behave a little decent, and get up the character, I’ll make her send you an invitation to the big ball!” “The ball!” “I know you’re fond of high life, and seeing smart people: and you can act when you like. Now look here, put a good face upon it and let’s have a little more time. Write to him that you’ve got a promise of having everything settled if you wait till after the 30th, and that you’re going to a ball at Rowland’s house under my wing; and then you’ll wire about the engagement and all that as soon as ever it comes off. You’ll never have such a chance again,” said Eddy; “_crême de la crême_, my boy, and all that sort of thing.” “People of the place,” said Johnson, with a sneer. “People of the place! Well I hope when it’s Clydesdale and his lot, that’s good enough for you. And perhaps you call the Duke of Arran one of the people of the place. So he is, for it all belongs to him: and the Huntingshaws and the Herons, who, I rather think, have been heard of even in London town.” “Oh, well,” said Johnson, with half eager, half reluctant acquiescence; “but if that lady is the one to give the invitations, you will never get her to ask me.” “We’ll see about that,” said Eddy, complacently, “I think I know what I’m about.” “You know a deal too well what you’re about. For a fellow of your age, you are the oldest fellow and the most artful I ever knew. I do believe it’s only to gain time, and that there’s nothing in it. Carrying on with a girl is nothing to you; you can get ‘em to believe you when another fellow hasn’t even the chance to have a hearing. There’s that tall one, your sister, looks at me as if I was the dirt under her feet. I’ll tell you what, if you’ll make her give me a dance at this thundering ball of yours, I’ll do it--whatever the Governor may say.” “Well you can ask her,” said Eddy, in lightness of heart, “like any other gentleman. You don’t want an introduction, because you’ve met her before. A woman can’t refuse without being ill-bred, and nobody could ever say of the Saumarez that they were ill-bred. Of course she’ll dance with you--if you ask her,” he said, with a laugh. “What’s that laugh for?” said Johnson, suspiciously.