Clinton observed the marked change in her manner.  Fortunately for his peace of mind, he was not so deeply in love as to be very seriously distressed.  He had admired her beauty, her accomplishments, and the winning grace of her manners; and more, had felt his heart beginning to warm towards her.  But the charm with which she had been invested, faded away the moment the change of which we have spoken became apparent.  He was not a man of strong, ungovernable impulses; all his passions were under the control of right reason, and this gave him a clear judgment.  Consequently, he was the last person in the world for an experiment such as Margaret Hubert was making.  At first he thought there must be some mistake, and continued to offer the young lady polite attentions, coldly and distantly as they were received.  He even went farther than his real feelings bore him out in going, and made particular advances, in order to be perfectly satisfied that there was no mistake about her dislike or repugnance.

But there was one thing which at first Clinton did not understand.  It was this.  Frequently, when in company where Margaret was present, he would, if he turned his eyes suddenly upon her, find that she was looking at him with an expression which told him plainly that he was not indifferent to her.  This occurred so often, and was so frequently attended with evident confusion on her part, that he began to have a suspicion of the real truth, and to feel disgust at so marked an exhibition of insincerity.  Besides, the thought of being experimented upon in this way, did not in the least tend to soften his feelings towards the fair one.  He believed in frankness, honesty and reciprocal sincerity.  He liked a truthful, ingenuous mind, and turned instinctively from all artifice, coquetry or affectation.

The game which Miss Hubert was playing had been in progress only a short time, when her friend Lizzy Edgar, who was on terms of close intimacy, spent the day with her, occupying most of the time in preparation for a fancy ball that was to come off that night.  The two young ladies attired themselves with much care, each with a view to effect.  Margaret looked particularly to the assumption of a certain dignity, and her costume for the evening had been chosen with that end in view.  A ruff, and her grand-mother’s rich silk brocade, did give to her tall person all the dignity she could have desired.

At the proper time the father of Miss Hubert accompanied the young ladies to the ball, preparations for which had for some time been in progress.  As soon almost as Margaret entered the room, her eyes began to wander about in search of Mr. Clinton.  It was not long before she discovered him—­nor long before his eyes rested upon and recognized her stately figure.

“If she be playing a part, as I more than half suspect,” said the young man to himself, “her performance will end to-night, so far as I am concerned.”