Mr. Dalzell thought he ought to ask Jane to dance once, just to show that he did not quite forget his old friends.  He tried Elsie first, but she was fortunately engaged to Mr. Malcolm, so he walked slowly to Miss Melville, and asked her hand in an impressive manner.  She willingly accepted, and spoke to him as she would to any ordinary acquaintance.  He was piqued; he had hoped to have made her a little jealous of his attentions to Miss Wilson, and tried to get up a little sentimental conversation about old times, and the rides they used to have, and the romantic scenery about Cross Hall and Moss Tower, but not the slightest sigh of regret could his ear catch.  He apologized for not having been to see her, and said his mother regretted that her last visit to Edinburgh had been so hurried that she had no time.  Jane said quietly that she had not expected to see either of them.  Had she not found it dull living in the Old Town with Peggy Walker?—­No, she had never felt it dull; she had always plenty to do.  Was Peggy as much of a character as ever?—­Yes; she was glad to say, Peggy was the same admirable woman she had always been, and on nearer acquaintance her character became still more appreciated.  The children must be a nuisance?—­The children were particularly fine children, and a great resource to her.  He thought Miss Alice was not looking well.  Had she felt the want of the fresh country air?—­For a moment this arrow struck her; a painful expression passed over her face, but she subdued her feelings quickly.—­Yes, perhaps Alice did suffer from the change; but they were going to have a week’s amusement while their cousin was in town, and she hoped her sister would be the better for it.

Neither Mr. Dalzell nor Jane were sorry when the dance was ended and they were relieved of each other’s company; and he returned to Miss Wilson, while she joined Elsie in the library, where she was finishing her critical reading of Miss Rennie’s album, with a better coadjutor than the Australian settler, in the person of her cousin.  She was rather afraid of him at first, but she found that in general their opinions were the same as to merits and demerits, and she could not help owning that it would have been well to have taken him into her counsels before she tried the public.

“I have been telling Francis,” said Jane, “that I am making up my mind to go to Mrs. Dunn’s.”

“Then I will go with you, Jane; we must go together; you are not to have all the drudgery.”

“I say I am only making up my mind; it is not made up yet.  I will wait another week before I decide.  You are to be in town for a few days, Francis, and you will see us every day before we go.  I wish to have a little amusement before I settle; so, Elsie, let us arrange.  The theatre to-morrow night, the exhibition on Thursday morning, a concert on Thursday evening, and on Friday an excursion to Roslin; Saturday I am not sure about, but we will see when the time comes.”