"You look positively killing," said Caroline, who had no eyes for any but him, "you must dance first, as usual, with me, remember."
"With much pleasure," said he, bowing, and at the same time offering his arm.
Mabel looked at them, for a moment; truly they were a handsome couple as they stood side by side, prepared to leave the room.
Hargrave's eyes met hers with that look of almost infantine joyousness, which Clair had described as peculiar to him. From that time Mabel felt as under the influence of a shadowy dream. She turned aside to put on Selina's shawl.
Selina needed every body's assistance, she never did any thing by herself.
It was time to go.
"Well, my dears," said Mrs. Villars, "we had better wish Mabel good-bye, to-night, as I fear we shall not be up in the morning. I have given orders that your breakfast shall be all comfortable," she added, half turning to her niece, but avoiding her eye, "good night, my dear, a pleasant journey."
"Good bye, aunt," said Mabel, seriously. How she pitied her shuffling confusion!
"Good-bye, dear," said Caroline, with an assumption of kindness which she could well afford, as she leant on the arm of the handsome Hargrave, "you will write and tell us how you are going on."
She did not answer; she felt her heart swelling, and she wished them gone.