What a turn to my thoughts did this unexpected ejaculation give rise to!  I now began to consider her more attentively, and certainly concurred fully in the Frenchwoman’s verdict.  I had never see her look half so well before.  The great fault in her features, which were most classically regular, lay in the monotony and uniform character of their expression.  Now this was quite changed.  Her cheek was slightly flushed, and her eyes more brilliant than ever; while her slightly parted lips gave a degree of speaking earnestness to her expression, that made her perfectly beautiful.

Whether it was from this cause I cannot say, but I certainly never felt so suddenly decided in my life from one course to its very opposite, as I now did to make l’aimable to my lovely companion.  And here, I fear, I must acknowledge, in the honesty of these confessional details, that vanity had also its share in the decision.  To be the admitted and preferred suitor of the prettiest woman in company, is generally a strong inducement to fall desperately in love with her, independently of other temptations for so doing.

How far my successes tallied with my good intentions in this respect, I cannot now say.  I only remember, that more than once O’Leary whispered to me something like a caution of some sort or other; but Emily’s encouraging smiles and still more encouraging speeches had far more effect upon me than all the eloquence of the united service, had it been engaged in my behalf, would have effected.  Mrs. Bingham, too—­who, to do her justice, seemed but little cognisant of our proceedings—­from time to time evinced that species of motherly satisfaction which very young men rejoice much in, and older ones are considerably alarmed at.

The play over O’Leary charged himself with the protection of madam, while I enveloped Emily in her cachmere, and drew her arm within my own.  What my hand had to do with her’s I know not; it remains one of the unexplained difficulties of that eventful evening.  I have, it is true, a hazy recollection of pressing some very taper and delicately formed finger—­and remember, too, the pain I felt next morning on awaking, by the pressure of a too tight ring, which had, by some strange accident, found its way to my finger, for which its size was but ill adapted.

“You will join us at supper, I hope,” said Mrs. Bingham, as Trevanion handed her to her carriage.  “Mr. Lorrequer, Mr. O’Leary, we shall expect you.”

I was about to promise to do so, when Trevanion, suddenly interrupted me, saying that he had already accepted an invitation, which would, unfortunately, prevent us; and having hastily wished the ladies good night, hurried me away so abruptly, that I had not a moment given for even one parting look at the fair Emily.

“Why, Trevanion,” said I, “what invitation are you dreaming of?  I, for one, should have been delighted to have gone home with the Binghams.”