“Nonsense, man; never be afraid!” exclaimed Freddy, who had just joined us; “I'll pick you out a partner who's used to the thing, and will do all the talking herself, and be glad of the opportunity of giving her tongue a little exercise; and here comes the very girl, of all others—Di Clapperton.” Then turning towards a tall, showy-looking girl, who had just arrived, he addressed her with—“Delighted to see you, Miss Clapperton; a ball-room never appears to me properly arranged till it is graced by your presence: here's my friend, the Hon. George Lawless, dying to be introduced to you”.
“Pleasure—ar—dancing—with you, eh?” muttered the Hon. George, giving a little quick nod between each word, and getting very red in the face.
The young lady smiled a gracious assent, and saying, “I think they are forming a quadrille—shall we take our places?” marched him off in triumph.
“Frank, are you provided; or can I do anything for you?” inquired Coleman.
“Who is that interesting-looking girl, with dark hair?” asked I, in return.
“What, the she-male with the white camellia in her head, leaning on the arm of that old fellow with a cast-iron face? What a splendid pair of eyes she has got! I'll rind out her name, and get you introduced,” replied Coleman, disappearing in the crowd. In a minute or two he returned, and informed me that the young lady's name was Saville. “You've not made such a bad hit either,” continued he; “they tell me she's to be a great heiress, and old Ironsides there is her guardian. They say he keeps her shut up so close that nobody can see her; he would hardly let her come to-night, only he's under some business obligations to my governor, and he persuaded him to bring her, in order to give me a chance, I suppose.”
“What an expression of sadness there is in those deep blue eyes of hers! I am afraid she is not happy, poor thing!” said I, half thinking aloud.
“Why, you're getting quite romantic about it!” returned Coleman; “for my part, I think she looks rather jolly than otherwise;—see how she's laughing with my cousin Lucy; by Jove, how her face lights up when she smiles!—she's very decidedly pretty. Well, will you be introduced?—they are going to waltz.”
I signified my assent, and Coleman set off in search of his father to perform the ceremony, not having courage enough himself to face “old Stiff-back,” as he irreverently termed the young lady's guardian.
“I am sorry to refuse your young friend, Mr. Coleman,” was the reply to my introduction; “but Miss Saville never waltzes.”