"Oh, yes!" triumphantly, "I know all about you, and who you are, and I shall certainly make it my business to inform every one, and——"
"Do not for goodness' sake, Mrs. Creery!" he interrupted eagerly. "Do me the greatest of favours, and keep what you know to yourself."
Mrs. Creery reared back her diademed head, like a cobra about to strike, and was on the point of making some withering reply, when the General accosted her with his elbow crooked in her direction, and said, "I believe this is our dance," and thus with a nod to her companion, implying that she had by no means done with him, she was led away to open the ball.
Meanwhile Helen had overheard Mrs. Graham whisper across her to Mrs. Home,—
"What do you think? When Mrs. Creery came back from us, she found her letters at home, and she has heard something dreadful about Mr. Lisle!"
Helen was conscious of a thrill of dismay as she listened. She was so perplexed, and so preoccupied, that she scarcely knew what she was saying, when Mr. Quentin came and led her away to dance. During the Lancers she was visibly distrait, and her attention was wandering from the figures and her partner, but she was soon brought to her senses by Mr. Quentin saying rather abruptly,—
"I've just heard a most awful piece of news!"—her heart bounded. "Only fancy their sending me to the Nicobars!"
Helen breathed more freely as she stammered out,—
"The Nicobars?"
"Yes, the order came this evening by the Scotia—sharp work—and I sail in her for Camorta to-morrow at cock-crow."