‘Does any one know?’ said Reginald.

’Only ourselves and Mr. Mohun; and I think Lord Rotherwood guesses, from something I heard him say to Jane.’

‘To Jane?’ said Reginald.  ’That is provoking; she will think she found it out all herself, and be so conceited!’

‘You need not be afraid,’ said Marianne, laughing; ’Jane is on a wrong scent.’

’Jane?  Oh!  I should like to see her out in her reckonings!  I should like to have a laugh against her.  What does she think, Marianne?’

‘Oh!  I cannot tell you; it is too bad.’

’Oh! do; do, pray.  You may whisper it if it is too bad for Phyllis to hear.’

‘No, no,’ said Marianne; ’it is nothing but nonsense.  If you hear it, Phyllis shall too; but mind, you must promise not to say anything to anybody, or I do not know what will become of me.’

‘Well, we will not,’ said Reginald; ’boys can always keep secrets, and I’ll engage for Phyl.  Now for it.’

’She is in a terrible fright lest it should be Mr. Mohun.  She got it into her head last autumn, and all I could say would not persuade her out of it.  Why, she always calls me Aunt Marianne when we are alone.  Now, Reginald, here comes Maurice.  Do not say anything, I beg and entreat.  It is my secret, you know.  I daresay you will all be told to-morrow,—­indeed, mamma said so,—­but pray say nothing about me or Jane.  It was only settled yesterday evening.’

At this moment Maurice came up, with a message that Miss Weston and Eleanor were going away, and wanted the little girls.  They followed him to the tent, which had been cleared of the tables, and lighted up, in order that the dancing might continue there.  Most of their own party were collected at the entrance, watching for them.  Lilias came up just as they did, and exclaimed in a tone of disappointment, on finding them preparing to depart.  She had enjoyed herself exceedingly, found plenty of partners, and was not in the least tired.

‘Why should she not stay?’ said William.  ’Claude has engaged to stay to the end of everything, and he may as well drive her as ride the gray.’

‘And you, Jenny,’ said Mr. Mohun, ’do you like to stay or go?  Alethea will make room for you in the pony-carriage, or you may go with Eleanor.

‘With Eleanor, if you please,’ said Jane.

‘Already, Jane?’ said Lily.  ‘Are you tired?’

Jane drew her aside.  ’Tired of hearing that I was right about what you would not believe.  Did you not hear what he called her?  And Rotherwood has found it out.’

‘It is all gossip and mistake,’ said Lily.

Here Jane was called away by Eleanor, and departed with her; Lilias went to look for her aunt or Florence, but on the way was asked to dance by Mr. Carrington.

‘I suppose I may congratulate you,’ said he in one of the pauses in the quadrille.

Lily thought it best to misunderstand, and answered, ’Everything has gone off very well.’