a very handsome but very rustic poor squire, who troubled the society of cities little.  Bessie’s beauty was perfect to his taste, especially when her blushes were revived by a certain tender paternal significance and familiarity in his address to her.  But when the blushes cooled her spirit of mischief grew vivacious to repel their false confession, and even Lady Angleby felt for a moment disturbed.  Only for a moment, however.  She wished that Mr. Burleigh would leave his country manners at home, and ascribing Bessie’s shy irritation to alarmed modesty, introduced a pleasant subject to divert her thoughts.

“Is there to be a ball at Brentwood or no ball, Miss Fairfax?” said she with amiable suggestion.  “I think there was something mooted about a ball if my nephew won his election, was there not?”

What could Bessie do but feel appeased, and brighten charmingly?—­“Oh, we shall dance for joy if you give us one; but if you don’t think we deserve it—­” said she.

“Oh, as for your deserts—­Well, Mary, we must have the dance for joy.  Cecil wishes it, and so, I suppose, do you all,” said her ladyship with comprehensive affability.  Mr. Burleigh nodded at Bessie, as much as to say that nothing could be refused her.

Bessie blushed again.  She loved a little pleasure, and a ball, a real ball—­Oh, paradise!  And Mr. Cecil Burleigh coming in at the moment she forgot her proper reticent demeanor, and made haste to announce to him the delight that was in prospect.  He quite entered into her humor, and availed himself of the moment to bespeak her as his partner to open the ball.

It was settled that she should stay at Brentwood to help in the preparations for it, and her grandfather left her there extremely contented.  Cards of invitation were sent out indiscriminately to blue and orange people of quality; carpenters and decorators came on the scene, and were busy for a week in a large empty room, converting it and making it beautiful.  The officers of the cavalry regiment stationed at Norminster were asked, and offered the services of their band.  Miss Jocund and her rivals were busy morning, noon, and night in the construction of aerial dresses, and all the young ladies who were bidden to the dance fell into great enthusiasm when it was currently reported that the new member, who was so handsome and so wonderfully clever, was almost, if not quite, engaged to be married to that pretty, nice Miss Fairfax, with whom they were all beginning to be more or less acquainted.

Mr. Fairfax did not return to Brentwood until the day of the dance.  Lady Angleby was anxious that it should be the occasion of bringing her nephew’s courtship to a climax, and she gave reasons for the expediency of having the whole affair carried through to a conclusion without unnecessary delays.  Sir Edward Lucas had been intrusive this last week, and Miss Fairfax too good-natured in listening to his tedious talk of colliers, cottagers, and spade husbandry.  Her ladyship scented a danger.  There was an evident suitability of age and temper between these two young persons, and she had fancied that Bessie looked pleased when Sir Edward’s honest brown face appeared in her drawing-room.  She had been obliged to ask him to her ball, but she would have been thankful to leave him out.