The dance over, Richard and his partner wandered towards a more retired part of the hall.

“Why does your sister shun me?” inquired Alizon, with a look of great distress.  “What can I have done to offend her?  Whenever I regard her she averts her head, and as I approached her just now, she moved away, making it evident she designed to avoid me.  If I could think myself in any way different from what I was this morning, when she treated me with such unbounded confidence and kindness, or accuse myself of any offence towards her, even in thought, I could understand it; but as it is, her present coldness appears inexplicable and unreasonable, and gives me great pain.  I would not forfeit her regard for worlds, and therefore beseech you to tell me what I have done amiss, that I may endeavour to repair it.”

“You have done nothing—­nothing whatever, sweet girl,” replied Richard.  “It is only caprice on Dorothy’s part, and except that it distresses you, her conduct, which you justly call ‘unreasonable,’ does not deserve a moment’s serious consideration.”

“Oh no! you cannot deceive me thus,” cried Alizon.  “She is too kind—­too well-judging, to be capricious.  Something must have occurred to make her change her opinion of me, though what it is I cannot conjecture.  I have gained much to-day—­more than I had any right to expect; but if I have forfeited the good opinion of your sister, the loss of her friendship will counterbalance all the rest.”

“But you have not lost it, Alizon,” replied Richard, earnestly.  “Dorothy has got some strange notions into her head, which only require to be combated.  She does not like Mistress Nutter, and is piqued and displeased by the extraordinary interest which that lady displays towards you.  That is all.”

“But why should she not like Mistress Nutter?” inquired Alizon.

“Nay, there is no accounting for fancies,” returned Richard, with a faint smile.  “I do not attempt to defend her, but simply offer the only excuse in my power for her conduct.”

“I am concerned to hear it,” said Alizon, sadly, “because henceforth I shall be so intimately connected with Mistress Nutter, that this estrangement, which I hoped arose only from some trivial cause, and merely required a little explanation to be set aside, may become widened and lasting.  Owing every thing to Mistress Nutter, I must espouse her cause; and if your sister likes her not, she likes me not in consequence, and therefore we must continue divided.  But surely her dislike is of very recent date, and cannot have any strong hold upon her; for when she and Mistress Nutter met this morning, a very different feeling seemed to animate her.”

“So, indeed, it did,” replied Richard, visibly embarrassed and distressed.  “And since you have made me acquainted with the new tie and interests you have formed, I can only regret alluding to the circumstance.”

“That you may not misunderstand me,” said Alizon, “I will explain the extent of my obligations to Mistress Nutter, and then you will perceive how much I am bounden to her.  Childless herself, greatly interested in me, and feeling for my unfortunate situation, with infinite goodness of heart she has declared her intention of removing me from all chance of baneful influence, from the family with whom I have been heretofore connected, by adopting me as her daughter.”