Morton House, Chapters XIX-XX [pp. 576-583]

lher, mother," he said, a little wearily. "Can't you put the matter as will be all right. Then you are pale; but a little rouge-do you ever
if it concerned somebody else?-can't you see that if it did concern use rouge?"
somebody else, you would not think it of apy importance?" "Never."
"I see that you are wilfully blind, and wilfully determined to go "You don't think it a sin, do you?"
your own way," she answered. "Well, I have done my duty-I have "I don't think any thing about it. As a matter of personal taste,
warned you. Since you will not heed the warning, you must pay the I don't like, and don't use it-that is all. I confess, however, that
penalty of your obstinacy and folly, but my heart sinks when I con- the sight of it affects me very much in the same way that a coarse
sider what a penalty it will be. We had better go back to the house perfume does. The two things always seem to me to go together."
now-I have a great deal to do." "I don't use it myself," said Miss Lester, philosophically, "but a
They went back to the house, and did not speak of the subject great many girls do. I have a cousin who paints dreadfully. How again; but, though MAorton had so summarily silenced his mother, he ever, paleness is becoming to you-you are generally pale-and I think
could not silence the thoughts of his own mind, or the throbs of his you might go down. Dancing will soon give you a color. If any per own heart. "What did it mean?" he asked himself again and again, sonal arguments are needed, Cousin Tom is half crazy to see you, and
with the same feeling which had overpowered him when that letter, Spitfire will get a new collar if you go."
which had been the direct consequence of his mother's act, had dropped Katharine thought of the unwelcome visitor whom Spitfire had
from the pages of the "Adelaide." His perplexity was not ended, nor forced upon her notice that morning, and felt very little of the
his anxiety stilled, by the fact that Miss Tresham did not appear again grateful esteem which would have made her anxious to secure a
that day. She was lying down-she had a headache, he was told, new collar for him. But still she suffered herself to be persuaded
when he inquired about her; and, with this most unsatisfactory infor- -especially as she did not need very much persuasion-and, after
mation, he was obliged to be content, and make, or try to make, him- a short gossip in the fading twilight, the serious business of the toilet
self agreeable to a score or more of people. It was fine social train- began.
ing, no doubt, but very unpleasant in the process. Any thing that The ballroom at Annesdale formed a wing of the main building,
teaches you to conceal your feelings, and smile in the face of the and had been built by Morton since affairs came into his hands. It
world when your heart is breaking-if hearts ever do break!-is con- was a large, and (for a ballroom), decidedly tasteful apartment-or sidered a benefit; and, certainly, Morton made great strides in this namented sufficiently to avoid the look of disagreeable bareness yet
branch of social art that day. He had to hear a great many remarks not overloaded by any means, and with every facility for light and
from other people, too; for Langdon, Talcott and Co., were quite con- warmth. It was a beautiful apartment, Katharine thought, as she
.cerned for Miss Tresham's indisposition, and kept saying how very entered it for the first time that evening, and saw the lofty ceiling
unlucky it was, and the ball that night, too! "There is no danger painted in brilliant fresco, the double line of columns down the sides,
but that she will be well enough for the ball," said Miss Lester, who the heavy green garlands that swung in festoons from one to another
heard some remark of this description. "What! any girl in her and the lights glittering in every direction, shining on the scarlet
senses stay away from the ball-and such a ball, too! I'll believe it holly-berries, and reflected back from the smoothly-waxed floor. On
when I see it, and if you care to wager, Cousin Tom, I'll bet you a a raised stand at the upper end of the room, the band was pealing
new collar for Spitfire, that she comes down!" forth a march, and the guests, who had been lingering in the draw "I'll wager, certainly, Maggie," said Cousin Tom. "A new col- ing-rooms, in the green-house, in the library, in every place that was
lar for Spitfire, is it?-against what?" thrown open to the public, began to pour in. Afew couples were
" Oh, any thing you choose. Shall we say a purse? I wouldn't, promenading in time to those strains, but with the majority there was
if I was not sure that I shall not have the trouble of making it." an exciting rush to make engagements, and secure a desirable position
"A purse, then," said he, taking out his note-book, and entering in certain desirable ball-books.-" Are you engaged for the third set,
an imposing register of the wager. Miss Josephine? "-"May I have the fifth on your list, Miss An Dinner was early that day, for the ball was to come off in the nie? "-" Stand back, Tom, I have a word or two to say-Miss Mary,
evening, and it was necessary that the whole force of the establishment mayn't I have the second? "-" Bella, I wish you would remember
should be employed in preparation. This was the ball of which Kath- that mamma don't like you to waltz."-" Certainly, Mr. Ford, you
arine had spoken to Mrs. Gordon, of which she had thought as the first can have the pleasure of-the tenth set, did you say? "-" Dancey,
and greatest item in her Christmas enjoyment; and now it was with a who is your partner for the first cotillon?-Get one, man, in a hur sick heart and a throbbing head that she faced the prospect of it, and ry, and be our vis-d-vis-Miss Nelly's and mine."-" Stop there,
the necessity of rising to dress. As she lay on her bed with the room George, stop-come here and help us to make up a set."-" A polka
darkened, the fire burning with a soft, crackling content, a wet hand- did you say, Mr. Anderson? I never dance the round dances."
kerchief over her aching eyes, and a bottle of cologne-water in her All this was sounding at once in Katharine's ears, as she stood
hand, some despairing thoughts on the perversity of human circum- near a large pillar, looking very pale and pretty in her white dress
stances occurred to her. She had come to Annesdale meaning to wreathed with blue convolvulus, when'Annesley came up to her.
leave her weight of anxiety behind, and to enjoy herself for a short "I have been looking for you everywhere," he said, hastily, "and
time with the natural enjoyment of youth; and all of a sudden every I have only time for a word. Will you give me the second set, and
thing was dashed with bitterness! Poor Katharine! Very stern save two or three more for me?"
troubles were staring her in the face, but still she had time to give a "I cannot give you the second set," she answered. "It is Mr.
sigh to her murdered pleasure. "If it had only been the day after Talcott's."
the ball!" she thought to herself —and it is to be hoped that she will "The third, then?"
not be accounted utterly frivolous for doing so! "That belongs to Mr. Hallam."
She had at last risen languidly, and was looking with critical at- "The fourth-fifth-sixth-any thing! Permit me-" he sudtention in the mirror, regarding her pale cheeks, her red eyes, and denly leaned forward, and, taking the little ivory toy that hung at her
her swollen nose, wondering if it would be possible to bring all these waist, ran his eye rapidly over the list of engagements, scribbled
features into order, or if she had not better make a virtue of neces- his initials in two or three vacant places, then, with a smile and
sity, and resign the ball, when the door opened and Miss Lester en- a "Thank you," was gone. A moment later, Mr. Langdon left the
tered. side of a young lady with whom he was negotiating for a waltz, and
"So you are up!" cried this young lady, in her liveliest tone. chlimed Katharine's hand for the dance about to commence. The
"' I am glad of that-glad because you are better, and because I have measure of the music changed, the confused mass of figures formed
a wager on your going to the ball. You are going, are you not?" into magical squares, the wall-flowers of both sexes fell back and
"I was just considering about it," said Katharine, doubtfully, clustered around or beyond the columns, and the amusement of the
"Come and tell me what you think. I am looking frightfully, you evening began in earnest. To Katharine it would have been like ensee." chantment, at another time; but now, above the sound of the music,
"I don't see any thing of the kind," said Miss Lester, whose the tread of dancing feet, the shifting to-and-fro of brightly-clad
opinion was rather biassed by personal interest. "Your eyes are red forms, she saw one face and heard one voice that banished all gayety
sand-your-nose-a little. But that is because you have been cry- from her heart, and took all lightness from her step. Despite her
Ang. If you don't cry any more, by the time you are dressed they s efforts to the contrary, she seemed so unlike herself that her appeai -
1871.]
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