THE BALLET. 237 



Lord Danby tenaciously holding his position, as a bar to all 

 others approaching her, in whom he still took so deep an interest, 

 remained oblivious of the lapse of time until the last act of the 

 opera, when, apologising for his long intrusion, he reluctantly 

 left the box. 



When the curtain fell, Lady Malcolm expressed her intention 

 to remain during the ballet also, and Blanche, remembering 

 Beauchamp' s remarks, rose from her seat, and making an excuse 

 that the glare of the lights affected her eyes, Constance changed 

 places with her, and she felt relieved on finding herself near Mrs. 

 Gordon, who, equally displeased with the prospect of the coming 

 exhibition, had vainly endeavoured to persuade her sister to 

 leave the house before the ballet commenced. 



"You are quite right, my love," whispered her aunt, "in 

 withdrawing from that exposed position, although my sister 

 and Charles laugh at our prudish ideas, as they call them, about 

 the danseuses. For the future, I shall order my own carriage 

 to be in waiting after the opera is over ; but I did not wish, on 

 our first appearance, to give offence to my sister." 



As Taglioni flitted across the stage, throwing herself into 

 her most graceful though not very modest attitude, Malcolm, 

 delighting to tease his cousin, said, " There, Blanche, is not that 

 quite perfection ? " And now, as with a twirl she stood for a 

 second on her toes, " Wouldn't you give a good deal to be able 

 to astonish Will Beauchamp with such a feat as that?" or 

 " Look now, that pirouette — my stars ! how Beauchamp would 

 stare to see his darling perform such an evolution ! " 



" I'm surprised at you, Charles," said Mrs. Gordon, " tor- 

 menting your cousin in this foolish manner." 



" Oh, nonsense, aunty dear ; Blanche will soon become 

 accustomed to such sights, and then think nothing of them, 

 as others do." 



" Indeed, I shall not, Charles," replied Blanche, firmly, (t and 

 I hope never to witness another ballet." 



Sir John Martingale now entering the box, Malcolm was 

 diverted from further attacks on poor Blanche, who, leaning 

 back against the side of the box, showed her fixed deter- 

 mination to withdraw her eyes from the stage, in which she 

 was seconded by Mrs. Gordon, who began conversing with 

 her on other subjects. Great was the relief to both when this 

 indelicate performance ceased, and they were once more safe in 

 the carriage, through all the draughts, bustlings, and bustlings 

 consequent on the last falling of the curtain. 



