At the other side of the room conversation of a different character was going on between the son of Lord Woodhall and the fair Lady Danvers. She had remained, after Ralph left her, on the same spot, watching, if the truth must be told, his proceedings with some interest, and suspecting, though not convinced of the truth. Henry Woodhall was an old acquaintance, but in her eyes nothing more; and when he approached her, as soon as he re-entered the ball-room, she inquired, "How is your sister?"
It was hypocrisy, I must needs admit; for had the question which first sprang to her lips been uttered, it would have been, "Where is your cousin?"
"Oh, she is getting better," replied Henry Woodhall, lightly; "ladies will faint, you know, most beautiful."
"Why, your cousin Ralph seems to take a deeper interest in the matter than you do," replied the lady, not seeking to make any mischief, but moved by a curiosity which perhaps had its source in some deeper motive still.
"Oh, they have been all their childhood together," replied Henry Woodhall; "Ralph is as much her brother, in all our eyes, as I am."
"I almost fancied it was something more than brotherly love," said Hortensia, in a low voice.
"Pooh! nothing of the kind," replied Henry Woodhall, in his gay, light tone. "Margaret is to be married to my cousin Robert, by the act in that case made and provided for
"'Uniting lands and money In the holy estate of matrimony.'"
"But now tell me, beautiful lady," he continued, "will you dance with me?"
"Poor girl!" said Lady Danvers, with a sigh, not heeding his request at all.
"Why do you say poor girl?" asked Henry Woodhall.
"Because she ought to be a poor girl to marry your cousin Robert," replied Lady Danvers, bluntly, "and because she will be a poor girl if she does marry him."
"Marry him she will, assuredly," replied Henry. "These things always come to pass when the old people arrange them; and they do very well after all. You would be obliged to marry me, if your great-great-grandfather had arranged it with my great-great-grandmother."
"That I would not," replied Lady Danvers, "if all our ancestors had arranged it from Adam downward."
"Well, never mind that," replied Henry, laughing; "nobody asks you. The question at present is, Will you dance with me?"