"Miss Wycherly, you are after mischief; you are darting arrows at some poor wretch through that missile," continued young Tyndal, following her.
"I am darting nothing, unless you are my arrow, in which case I should delight to throw you to an incredible distance."
"You are witty, Miss Wycherly," returned young Tyndal, "and whenever you are witty, you are angry."
Miss Wycherly made no reply; she saw and approached Julia.
"Julia Wetheral, I beseech you to do me a service."
"I will gladly assist you, if it is in my power," replied Julia; "what is required of me?"
"Oh, leave the dance, and listen to me. Lord Ennismore will follow us, when he perceives you have quitted the set; here let us be seated, and I will tell you my anxiety."
Julia smilingly listened to Miss Wycherly's statement of her little coquetry, and the offended departure of Mr. Spottiswoode.
"And now," she said, "I know you will help me, and just make my peace with Charles. I won't give him the triumph of knowing he has frightened me, but in your playful way you can discover what Spottiswoode means. He has positively threatened to flirt with Lady Anna; and, whether I like him or not, he must not appear unconcerned with another woman. My dear, that would kill me. I can't part with Charles Spottiswoode in that way, you know, and I just want you to sound him. Now go, there's a dear creature; leave Lord Ennismore with me."