Fitzhenry did not, as she seemed to have expected, join in the laugh; and, with a smile of contempt, she added, “Surely you don’t think it incumbent upon you to play the English husband and be angry, for that would be taking a very unnecessary degree of trouble, I should think.”
Luckily, Pelham’s attention had, during this conversation, been attracted another way, so that Emmeline had gently withdrawn her arm, and the crowd had soon divided them. Disgusted with Mrs. Osterley’s levity, and fearful that Fitzhenry might perceive her, she drew back, although she would have given much to have heard his answer. She soon again saw them in the giddy round, and went to a seat which she observed to be un-occupied.
She had not been there long, before Miss Selina Danvers flew up to her, with ecstasy in her looks, and a perfect parterre of flowers in her head, and seizing her hand vehemently, “Well, my dear Lady Fitzhenry, here I am! actually at Almacks! and all owing to you, I am sure, I am more obliged to you than I can express. What an enchanting place it is! But only think how abominably those odious lady patronesses have behaved! After all, mamma has no ticket! Did you ever hear any thing like it? It is quite atrocious. I really thought I should have died with anxiety when we came to Willis’s room this morning to hear our fate; and my heart sank within me when I saw how full the street was of carriages, for we got into a regular string just like a ball—so delightful! We were there full an hour and a half waiting, but I am sure it was well worth while, and I really believe I screamed with joy when I saw my ticket; but, as I said before, there was none for mamma; so then we had to drive all over the town to find a chaperon for me to go with; at last we went to Lady Coddrington, and only think! she had got one for herself, and none for her daughter! Did you ever hear any thing so shocking! And she was so cross and sulky about it at first, that she said she would not go; but by abusing the lady patronesses, we got her into good-humour, and she agreed to take me; but, between ourselves, she is a very disagreeable chaperon; for out of spite, I suppose, because her ugly daughter could not get a ticket, she won’t try and get me a partner; and, odious woman, she came so late that the evening is already more than half over. I suppose you know all the men here, Lady Fitzhenry, don’t you?”
“Very few dancers,” said Emmeline, not feeling at all inclined to press Selina on any of her acquaintance.
“Dear! there is Mr. Moore!” exclaimed the young lady, already in a flutter of expectation; “and I do believe he is coming this way; and we danced constantly together at Arlingford, you know.”
That was true; but dancing and diverting himself with the simple Selina at Arlingford, and selecting her as his partner at Almacks, were two very different things; and after making her a distant, chilling bow, Mr. Moore sat down on the other side of Emmeline. Poor Selina’s countenance fell. Moore went on talking, sotto-voce, to Emmeline, till Selina could bear it no longer.
“Dear, Mr. Moore! how come you not to be dancing? I thought you liked it of all things!”
“I may ask you the same question,” returned he.
“Oh no, perhaps nobody has asked me,” answered Selina, pettishly.
“That is quite impossible; I will not suppose any thing so disgraceful to the taste and judgment of all the smart young gentlemen I see here,” added he, carelessly, and then returned to his affectedly interesting conversation with Emmeline, who listened apparently quite unworthy of the honour conferred on her. Selina saw with mortification that nothing was to be hoped from Mr. Moore. But just then, a foppishly dressed young man, coming up and speaking to Emmeline, Selina’s spirits revived: she touched her arm, whispering, “Who is that? could you introduce me to him?” At first Emmeline paid no attention, but Selina’s pinches became so urgent, that she at last was obliged to say: “Lord William Vernon, will you allow me to introduce my friend, Miss Danvers, to you?”