"Edward! Is it possible? Does he know her?"
"He was conversing with her. It would be no matter of wonder, if he feels as you do, if he were to fall in love with her."
"Pray Heaven he may!" said the mother warmly.
Just then the cotillion dissolved, and Mrs. Baldwin saw her son receive the young lady from Dr. B—, conduct her to a seat, and take his place beside her. She looked into his face with a familiar expression, and he seemed to be perfectly at home with her. At the same moment, Doctor B— came up to Mrs. Baldwin and her daughter, and the former said to him—
"What charming young lady is that you were dancing with just now? She is an entire stranger to me."
"She is a charming girl, sure enough," returned the doctor. "Shall I introduce her to you?"
"If you please, doctor. I will take it as a favor."
Doctor B— went over to where Ella was sitting, and said to her that Mrs. Baldwin would be happy to make her acquaintance. Ella arose and took the doctor's arm, while her lover, with some few tremors about his heart moved to another part of the room from which he could carefully observe them.
"Let me introduce to you my excellent young friend, Miss Hudson," said Doctor B—, presenting Ella. He purposely spoke the name so indistinctly that Mrs. Baldwin did not clearly make it out, and she was too well-bred to ask to have it repeated. Clara and Ella exchanged a look of intelligence that the mother did not observe.
"My daughter," she said, as the doctor, after seating Ella by her side, turned away. The young ladies bowed to each other, and smiled cordially.