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Oh! yes, Myra - I forgot; but I always put her aside, she is so unlike the rest; much more of her father in her; now, don't you think so, Mrs. Patty? Just that kind of odd, shut-up way about her-the man's way, in fact; nothing open-hearted, and womanlike, and get-on-able with.'

Mrs. Patty was a little quick in her reply: 'I don't think that we know what any young girl, or young boy either is, or is likely to be, till time proves it, Miss Medley; and so I would rather say nothing, except that poor little Myra has a vast deal of good about her.'

'Oh! no doubt; and it is not like a boy, with whom there are ten chances to one against his turning out good for anything; with a girl, as you say, there is hope always. But you must own, Mrs. Patty, that Rosamond Cameron shuts her sisters out like sunlight.' 'She is a good deal older,' said Mrs. Patty. 'Oh! but she was always the same from a baby; she never was like others. Such clean frocks as she always had! And now, just look, is n't she sweet?'

Rosamond was standing with her arm round Catharine Verney's waist, upon the point apparently of setting off on a polka, as soon as the set of whirling couples should give them a good opportunity of joining them. Mr. Verney was on a sofa near, and whilst they were waiting, she was talking to him. He was remonstrating against ladies dancing together, and Rosamond was insisting that it was quite allowable and very pleasant. There was a pretty, patronising, protecting air about her, as she called upon Catharine to support her, and strenuously refused Mr. Verney's

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proposal to be her partner, saying that she was already engaged.

'She is so simple and good-natured,' said Miss Medley; 'that is what I admire in her.'

'But I should like to know what she is at now,' was Mrs. Patty's reply, spoken in a very absent tone. She waited for a few moments more, and then went up to her brother: 'Doctor, dear'- the Doctor started -'we ordered the fly at half-past ten, and Miss Medley won't like to be late.'

'Oh! not for me; don't think about me, pray. I am forearmed-protected; I wish you were the same. A little camomilla does such wonders in quieting the system.'

'Those little girls won't have had enough of it till midnight,' said the Doctor, not moving his eyes from the dancers. But, Patty, I think I am tired.'

'To be sure you are, Doctor, dear; you ought to be in bed.'

'I should like to see Rosamond Cameron go round once more, though,' he continued.

'He is bewitched with her, like all the rest,' muttered Mrs. Patty to herself; and then she said aloud, 'Why, if you wait for that, Doctor, you may wait another hour. Don't you see she is talking to Mr. Verney?'

'Yes, certainly, but they are going off again. Only --Miss Medley, I beg your pardon,' and the Doctor seemed to wake up from a dream, and put up his hand and twisted his wig; 'It is a very strange thing - a very singular thing, that sense of rhythm. I should like to know Mr. Verney's opinion as to how far it is inherent in the Indian races; whether any similarity exists between them and the Greeks in this respect. Indo-European-there ought to be.'

'Doctor, dear, shall we ask for the carriage?' 'Certainly, Patty; I beg Miss Medley's pardon. No doubt Mr. Verney will give me the opportunity of discussion upon this topic. Do you think, Patty, they will ever stop ?'

'You can make your way by the fire-place, Doctor; let me go before you.' Miss Medley placed herself as a guard between the dancers and the infirm Doctor, who, accompanied by Mrs. Patty, went round to every one, and wished a kindly and individual 'Good night.'

His move was the signal for a general dispersion. Mr. Cameron and Colonel Verney, who had been deep in controversy of some kind, were roused to the knowledge that it was growing late, and Mr. Baines had long before torn himself away.

'You will allow me, sir, to see you to your carriage, before I enquire for my own,' said Mr. Cameron, as Dr. Kingsbury came up to him.

'By no means, sir, would I give you that trouble, but I thank you heartily. Patty, where did I leave my stick?'

'In the hall, Doctor; we shall find it when we go downstairs. Good night, Mr. Cameron. I hope you and the Colonel have been having a pleasant friendly talk; you have been long at it.'

Mr. Cameron shrunk into himself and bowed; whilst the Colonel exclaimed - 'Not one whit friendly, I am afraid, Mrs. Patty; Mr. Cameron is on the opposition bench, and likely to remain there, unless

your influence can bring him round. We were discussing the Idiot Asylum, and the new regulations.'

'Oh! the Idiot Asylum. Dear me, I quite forgot! Mr. Cameron, I must, please, have your votes; you will promise me?'

'Pardon me, I never promise without investigation; but Miss Kingsbury's protégés will always have a claim to consideration. Good night!' and there was another polite bow, and Mrs. Patty and the Doctor moved on, and at length escaped, not only from Mr. Cameron, but Mr. Verney, who was apparently too weary to do more than smile at the proposal made by the old man to discuss the characteristics of the Indian and Greek races on the earliest occasion.

Mr. Verney was not, however, too weary to offer his arm to Rosamond when she went downstairs; and not too absent to remind her of the topics which she had said she was always willing to discuss with persons who sympathised with her, and about which he begged for some information. Rosamond's reply was an appeal to Mrs. Cameron, who was close by her side.

'Mamma, what should you say was my favourite pursuit-the thing which most interested me? Is it drawing or music?'

'You have a taste for both, my dear; but what a strange question just now!'

'Only Mr. Verney wished to know what were the things I most cared for, and I felt doubtful how to reply; and one does not wish to be conceited,' she added, with child-like frankness.

'That was not an answer to my question,' said Mr. Verney, in a low voice, as he handed her into the carriage.

And Rosamond laughed lightly, and answered, 'I think the history of India is more in your way.'

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