"No one has seen me dance within the memory of man, Sir Philip," said Elizabeth, smiling, "I walk through one quadrille always for form's sake."
"Well then, Bessy, write a civil refusal, full of regrets," said Captain Gage, laying the note before her, "I must go and speak to Meadows about the carriage horses."
She took up a pen. Sir Philip drew his chair nearer to hers.
Elizabeth thought him rather curious, but as he was partly interested in the matter, she replied at once:
"I shall be able to tell her fortunately, that we are expecting some friends to stay with us the week after next."
"Nay, that would be very malicious," said Elizabeth, laughing. "But supposing such a case," said Sir Philip.
"Still fortune favours me," said Elizabeth, "for the friends we expect are an elderly couple, who certainly would not go to a ball."
"If the lady has a great interest in your coming, I think she would hardly give you up so easily," remarked Sir Philip.
"Ah! Sir Philip," said Elizabeth turning to him with a smile and a blush, "you chanced to hear what my father and I were talking about. Happily there is no one whom I should so little regret overhearing us."
"Because, in the first place, it is a subject which will not interest you sufficiently to dwell on your memory; and secondly, anything of that nature I am confident would be as safe with you as with ourselves."
"Miss Gage," said Sir Philip, looking earnestly at her, "I am a great many years older than you."
"That you must be," said Elizabeth, "for I remember you grown up when I was a child; yet you see how little difference there is now. You were alluding to the ball, were you not? You have outlived your taste for dancing, and I always felt too old for it."
"Permit me," said Sir Philip, surveying her still more earnestly, "to ask if you are disengaged."
"Perfectly; as soon as I have sealed this note," said Elizabeth, lighting the taper. "Do you think of going to S---- this morning? You can see the Cathedral, but you will be too late for service; you had better defer it till to-morrow."
But while she was speaking, she turned her head away to avoid his grave regard, a drop of wax fell on her finger.
"There!" said Sir Philip, taking her hand and examining it attentively, "you have burnt your finger. How very careless; you were not looking at what you were doing."