Bessie said, "No, oh, no! she had never been to a ball in her life."
"But you might go with us to the flower-show," said Julia. She thought it would please Mr. Cecil Burleigh if a little attention were shown to Miss Fairfax.
Bessie did not know what to answer: she looked at her strange clothing, and said suddenly, No, she thanked them, but she could not go. They quite understood.
Just at that moment came bearing down upon them Miss Buff, fat, loud, jolly as ever. "It is Bessie Fairfax! I was sure it was," cried she; and Bessie rushed straight into her open arms with responsive joy.
When she came to herself the Gardiners were gone. "Never mind, you are sure to meet them again; they are always about Ryde somewhere," Miss Buff said. "How delightful it is to see you, Bessie! And quite yourself! Not a bit altered—only taller!" And then they found a sheltered seat, and Bessie, still quivering with her happy surprise, began to ask questions.
"We have come from Beechhurst this morning, my niece Louy and myself," was Miss Buff's answer to the first. "We started at six, to be in time for the eight o'clock boat: the flower-show and the regatta ball have brought us. I hope you are going to both? No? What a pity! I never miss a ball for Louy if I can help it."
Bessie briefly explained herself and her circumstances, and asked when her friend had last seen any of Mr. Carnegie's family.
"I saw Mrs. Carnegie yesterday to inquire if I could do anything for her at Hampton. She looked very well."
"And did she say nothing of me?" cried Bessie in consternation.
"Not a word. She mentioned some time ago how sorry they all were not to have you at home for a little while before you are carried away to Woldshire."