They came home at about seven o’clock. Jane met them in the hall, full of her own and Lady Rotherwood’s wonderings; she hurried Lily upstairs, and—skilful, quick, and ready—she helped her to dress in a very short time. As they ran down Reginald overtook them, and they entered the drawing-room as the dinner-bell was ringing. William did not appear for some time, and his apologies were not such as to smooth matters for his sister.
Perhaps it was for this very reason that Mr. Mohun allowed Lily to escape with no more than a jesting reproof. Lord Rotherwood wished to make his cousin’s hardihood and enterprise an example to his sister, and, in his droll exaggerating way, represented such walks as every-day occurrences. This was just the contrary to what Emily wished her aunt to believe, and Claude was much diverted with the struggle between her politeness to Lord Rotherwood and her desire to maintain the credit of the family.
Lady Florence, though liking Lilias, thought this walk extravagant. Emily feared Lilias had lost her aunt’s good opinion, and prepared herself for some hints about a governess. It was untoward; but in the course of the evening she was a little comforted by a proposal from Lady Rotherwood to take her and Lilias to a ball at Raynham, which was to take place in January; and as soon as the gentlemen appeared, they submitted the invitation to their father, while Lady Rotherwood pressed William to accompany them, and he was refusing.
‘What are soldiers intended for but to dance!’ said Lord Rotherwood.
‘I never dance,’ said William, with a grave emphasis.
‘I am out of the scrape,’ said the Marquis. ‘I shall be gone before it takes place; I reserve all my dancing for July 30th. Well, young ladies, is the Baron propitious?’
‘He says he will consider of it,’ said Emily.
‘Oh then, he will let you go,’ said Florence, ‘people never consider when they mean no.’
‘No, Florence,’ said her brother, ‘Uncle Mohun’s “consider of it” is equivalent to Le Roi’s “avisera.”’
‘What is he saying?’ asked Lily, turning to listen. ‘Oh, that my wig is in no ball-going condition.’