"I don't like people who are quite so careful, to be sure; but Bella used to be rather extravagant sometimes."
"Indeed she was. I can't think how she will do, so good-natured as she is, if her husband is so dreadfully hard."
"Perhaps Harry is mistaken, though. Come, we must go down."
"You will have to dance Maurice's quadrille with Mr. Percy to-night, Lucia; are not you sorry?"
Lucia blushed. "Poor Maurice!" she said, and they went downstairs. Magdalen was right. Lucia danced with Percy, and thought no more of Maurice. The evening passed too quickly; it seemed as if so much happiness ought to last, but twelve o'clock came, and the elder people began to disappear. Mrs. Bellairs had left the room where the dancers were for a few minutes, and Lucia found her, looking tired and worried, in a small one which was quite deserted.
"I think I ought to go home," she said. "It is getting late. But, dear Mrs. Bellairs, how dreadfully tired you look!"
"I am tired; but weddings don't happen very often. Have you been enjoying yourself?"
"Oh! yes, so much. I don't think there ever was such a delightful party. It is only a pity Bella could not be here, and Maurice."
"I am afraid Maurice would not have enjoyed himself so much as you have done. Lucia, I am a little vexed with you, though I do not know whether I ought to say so."
Lucia hung her head for a moment, and then raised it saucily, confident that, as she stood half in shadow, her glowing cheeks could not be seen.