134 A BALL ROOM, AND A BELLE. 



ment and gaucherie, neither of the persons to whom 

 the words were now sportively addressed were to be 

 so put to silence; and, perhaps to conceal her own 

 feelings, it was Miss Merton who spoke first. 



" Have you long known Lady Cheshire, Mr. Fair- 

 fax ? What a beautiful and kind person she is ; don't 

 you think so ?" 



" No, and yes. Miss Merton, only since Sunday eve- 

 ning, when I first had the honor of dining with her. 

 Beautiful she is exceedingly — more beautiful, save 

 one, than any I have ever seen, and very charming, 

 and I do not doubt, kind too." 



" Save one. Then you are an admirer of blue eyes, 

 and prefer Isabella. She is lovely, but I don't agree 

 with you. But then one's likings afi'ect one's admi- 

 rings so strongly that I may be biassed. I love Lady 

 Cheshire dearly." 



" And ^ou have known her long." 



" Almost as long as I have known any thing — ages 

 before she was Lady Cheshire." 



" The idea of your having known any thing, ages.'* 



" Please, Colonel Fairfax, don't pay me any com- 

 pliments, I detest them." 



" And I — but you don't call that a compliment ? I 

 never say any thing to those whom I respect or ad- 

 mire, that I do not feel from my heart." 



" But it is not always well to say every thing that 

 one feels from his heart to every one, or at all sea- 

 sons." 



"Is it not? Why?" 



" I don't know ; do you always do it ?" 



" Too often, I'm afraid^ if you disapprove. We 

 are held to be very impetuous and impulsive beings in 

 my country." 



She had began to hold up her finger warningly, 

 though with a very lightsome smile, as he uttered his 



