"I don't see how that follows," said Margaret smiling; "but I like him very well."
"Good," said Harriet; "I see it is not a tender subject. You know the Gages are relations of ours. Are you not, Bessy?"
"Connexions, my dear Harriet; but I am quite ready to acknowledge the relationship."
"And is this your first ball?" said Harriet, turning again to Margaret.
"Don't you feel very nervous, and pleased, and frightened, and impatient?"
"Not very," said Margaret. "I wish very much to go, and I know Bessy and--and--two or three people."
"No. But if I do not dance, I shall be so amused with looking on, that it will be no disappointment to me."
"Very modest on your part; but I hear the gentlemen coming, so I must leave this charming footstool, or I shall be accused of fifty things. Here in this corner is room for two, so let us continue our conversation."
"Everything is so new to me," said Margaret, as she surveyed the room lit up with clusters of lamps, the heavy crimson curtains, the splendid gilt furniture, and the groups of gentlemen standing about the lady's chairs, drinking coffee, "this seems to me a very grand party; but perhaps it appears to you nothing."
"An ordinary dinner party," said Harriet; "perhaps they run rather large at this house. Uncle Gage, have you quite made up your book? Because I shall be happy to offer you odds upon Rory O'More."
Captain Gage who was passing with Sir Evan Conway, stopped short before the two girls.
"I will have nothing to do with you," he said to Harriet, "you are far too deep for me. I believe you are hand in glove with Lord Raymond's groom."
Sir Evan and Captain Gage both laughed very much at this charge.
Harriet with a deepened colour protested against having ever seen the groom, or the horse.
Captain Gage turned to Margaret, and asked if she had been taking lessons in the science of book-making; adding, "that as she must be a novice as yet, he was willing to risk a pair of gloves with her."
Margaret said "she was not going to bet at all; that Bessy had advised her not."
"Bessy is a prude," said Captain Gage, looking much pleased, "you should never mind anything she says to you."
Margaret laughed, and shook her head, and the gentlemen passed on.