CHAPTER IX. THE BALL

oImaybeallowedtobealittlevain.Iknowyouthinkmeashocking,conceited,frivolousgirlbutthen,youknow,Idon’tattributeitalltomypersonalattractions:Igivesomepraisetothehairdresser,andsometomyexquisitelylovelydress—youmustseeitto-morrow—whitegauzeoverpinksatin—andsosweetlymade!andanecklaceandbraceletofbeautiful,largepearls!” “Ihavenodoubtyoulookedverycharming:butshouldthatdelightyousoverymuch?” “Oh,no!—notthatalone:but,then,IwassomuchadmiredandImadesomanyconquestsinthatonenight—you’dbeastonishedtohear—” “Butwhatgoodwilltheydoyou?” “Whatgood!Thinkofanywomanaskingthat!” “Well,Ishouldthinkoneconquestwouldbeenoughandtoomuch,unlessthesubjugationweremutual.” “Oh,butyouknowIneveragreewithyouonthosepoints.Now,waitabit,andI’lltellyoumyprincipaladmirers—thosewhomadethemselvesveryconspicuousthatnightandafter:forI’vebeentotwopartiessince.Unfortunatelythetwonoblemen,LordG——andLordF——,weremarried,orImighthavecondescendedtobeparticularlygracioustothemasitwas,Ididnot:thoughLordF——,whohateshiswife,wasevidentlymuchstruckwithme.Heaskedmetodancewithhimtwice—heisacharmingdancer,by-the-by,andsoamI:youcan’tthinkhowwellIdid—Iwasastonishedatmyself.Mylordwasverycomplimentarytoo—rathertoomuchsoinfact—andIthoughtpropertobealittlehaughtyandrepellentbutIhadthepleasureofseeinghisnasty,crosswifereadytoperishwithspiteandvexation—” “Oh,MissMurray!youdon