day ~ you must have been thinking of THE ROSE AND THE KEY. something else—that yonr mamma will have in the course of the year, I thiuk it was CHAPTER XXXlX. THOUGH SOME PEOPLE GO four medical appointraents, rirtually in ber HOME, THE BALL GOES ON. gift; including the supply of medicines to FOR a time neither lady seemed disposed the county jail, which wUl be given to to talk, whatever candidate she supports. And Maud's i-uminatlons were exciting and they arc altogether worth between eleven • unsatisfactory. She had acted a good deal and twelve hundred a year, I think he said, from impulse, and, as she nOAv, perhaps, and that's the reason why Doctor Malkin secretly thought, neither very wisely nor is so frequent a risitor just now." very kindly, She expected a lecture from " I should be very glad," said Maud. MarimlUa. She would have preferred com­ "I don't care twopence who gets them," bat to her own solitary self-upbraidings. said Maximilla, resignedly. " There Is At all events, she quickly grew weary of some Doctor Murchlson—I think that was her reflections, and, turning her eyes to her the name—who is a rather formidable silent companion in the shadow of her own competitor." comer, she said: " Did Ethel Tintern dance much to­ "I quite forgot to ask Lady Mardykes night ?" asked the yonng lady. who her solemn friend,' with the black "Not a ^reat deal. I don't think she square beard, is. Did you ?" seeraed to care for the baU." "Yes—if you mean did I forget; at Here carae a silence. And after two or least, I don't think I had an opportunity. three minutes Miss Max said suddenly: But, to tell you the truth," here Miss Max "It strikes me yon have been sowing yawned, "I don't much care. He looks the wind to-night, ray dear." Hke a foreigner." " Sowing the wind ! How? What have " Yes. He has good eyes. There is some­ I done ?" thing quiet and masterly in his air, I saw " Come, Mand, yon know as well as I him afterwards talking to Doctor Malkin." what you have been doing. You have treated : '' Yes, so didl, I can't endure that man," Mr. Marston very ill; and you have pre­ exclaimed Miss Max. "Wliat on eai'tli pared, you may he sure, an animated scene brings him to a ball, of all places ?" at home. I can tell you, Barbara will be "I don't know, unless he hopes some of extremely angry; aud not without very the old squires may have an apoplexy at good reason." supper," answered Maud Vernon. "You meanabout Captain Vivian?" said "It misrht have been wiser if he had Maud, a Httle sulkily. •J _ stayed at home, I daresay Barbara would " Of course I mean about Captain Virian," repHed Miss Max, have had him to tea if he had looked in, and be would have had the advantage of a "Well there^s no good in taUtiug abont tete-a-tete," said MaximUla. it now. It's done, and I can't help it, and, " The advantage—what do yon mean ?" indeed, I could not have prevented it; and asked Maud. I dou't want to talk about it," said Maud, "Why, Mr. Foljambe told us yester­ pettishly. VOL.V. 530 [Mar G, 1371,] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [Uanduclodby "And what is Mr. Marston to think ?" dancing this time. It is so crowded," says "What he ^pleascs," iMaud answered. Miss Tintern. ''Ton know what mamma thinks of the "I'm so glad," says lie. "There is n Mavstons. I think my chance of going to quadrille after this. You must come where Lady Mardykes' would have been pretty wc shall be quiet for two or three minutes;'* well ended if she heard that I gave Mr. In the recess outside the ball-room, on Marston a great many dances, and she will the lobby at the head of the great staircase, 'know everything about this ball. It was an old-fashioned sofii is placed. not my fiiult. Captain Virian asking for Skirting the dancers, to this he led her. EiU those dances. I'm very glad he did. I When she had sat down, hope people remarked it. I hope mamma "Ethel," he said, "you are very angry win hear of it. If she does she wUl think —that is to say, very unjust. What have of Clothing else, I dare say." I done?" The young lady laughed, and then she "What have you done?" -she repeats. siohed. " Tou have placed me In the most miserable "Upon my word you are complicating situation. How am I to look Maud Vcruon the situation very prettily," said Miss Max. in the face again ? What wiU papa think " I suppose I am doing everything that of me ? Is not concealment enough ? Why is wrong and foolish; yet I beHeve it is should you practise positive deception ? I best as it is," said the yoiuig lady. " I did don't Hke it. I'm entirely against it. You not want to vex Mr, Marston; and If he make me utterly miserable." has any sense he'll understand perfectly that " Now, Ethel, don't be unreasonable. I did not; and what need I cai'c whether You must not blame me, for that which old Lord Hawkshawe, or Mr, Pindles, or neither you nor I can prevent. When Mr. Wylder, or any of the people who in­ the time comes I'll speak out frankly tended I should stay all night, dancing with enough. I could not help coming to Roy­ them in that hot room, are pleased or not ?" don. I could not refuse, T^dtliout a risk " Captain Vivian w^as determined cer­ of vexing Mr. Dawe very much, and that, tainly to make the most of his oppor­ for fifty reasons, would never do. I can't tunity," obsei'ved Miss Max. tell you all IVe suffered, being so near, aud And again the conversation flagged, and unable to contrive a meeting, with scarcely Miss Medwyn's active mind was employed an opportunity even of writing. Don't upon the problem, and busy in conjecturing suppose that the vexation has been all Captain Vivian's motive. yours; I have been positively miserable, " Either he wishes to pique Barbara," she and I knew veiy well all the ridiculous thought, " or he means to try his chances things that were said; and how they must of success, in good fiiith, with Mniid. I can have pained you. A little patience, a Httle quite understand that. But he is not the time," kind of person Maud would ever like, and " I know all that very well, and I have I do think she Hkes Mr. Marston." suffered fi-om those strange rumours, and I Then again she recalled Captain Vivian's have suffered to-night. I feel so treacherous sayings and doings that night at Wymer­ and deceitful. I w^on't be made an accom­ ing', to try to discover new lights and plice in such things. I hate myself, for hesi­ Idddeii meanings, to guide her to a right tating to tell Maud how It really Is." re;iding of that little episode. " My dear Ethel, you must not he foolish. While these two ladies are driving Living down here so much in the country, along the moon-Ht roads towards Roydon you make too much of trifles. What can EaU, the festivities of Wymering have lost it signify my dancing a few dances, more nothing of their energy. or less, with Miss Vernon ? Do you fancy I shall ask you, therefore, to peep uito she cares about me, or that any one seri­ th e ball-room for a few minutes more, ously, thinks there can bo anything more where you will find that Captain Vivian than that she likes my dancing, and that 1 has just begged of old Mr. Tintern to Intro­ admire her diamonds ? Why, dancing two duce him to Miss Tintern. That young or three dances at a ball means, absolutely larlv says to Mr. Tintern, hastily: nothing. Every one knows that. There "Oh, don't, please!" is nothing in It but this—that people won't But her papa, not hearing, or, at least, guess anything of the real state of things. not heeding, does present Captain Vivian, They won't see anything, for instance, in who carries off' the young lady on his arm. onr quiet little talk here." " If yon don't mind, 1 should prefer not Miss Buffins here passing by, with her ^ ==5' T ^•. Charles Dickena, Jan.] THE ROSE AND THE KET. [Mdye,lS71.] 531 hand on Captaiu Bamme's arm, stops, her in confidence, and even intimacy. Call cheeks flushed and radiant with her tri­ when he miy. Lady Vernon is never de­ umphs, and remarks what a jolly ball It nied to liim now. is, and how hot the roora is, and how every " Her ladyship is in the library, sir." one seeras to be enjoying it so much, and "Oh!" so she gabbles on. Captain Bamme, smiHng, And Mr, Tintern foUows the tall foot­ with his mouth open, and his face hot and man through the silent, stately rooms, to shining, is not able to get In a word, face­ the door he knows so well. tious or comphmentary, and Miss Buffins, He is announced, and very graciously as she entertains Miss Tintern, is scanning received. her di-ess, and estimating its value in detail, "You have come to consult about your while more slyly still, she inspects Captain projected road, I snppose? And, oddly Vivian.