CHAPTER IX. THE BALL

d.That’sfour,butnomatter—enoughofhimnow.” Thenshereturnedtotheball,andgavemeafurtheraccountofherdeportmentthere,andattheseveralpartiesshehadsinceattendedandfurtherparticularsrespectingSirThomasAshbyandMessrs.Meltham,Green,andHatfield,andtheineffaceableimpressionshehadwroughtuponeachofthem. “Well,whichofthefourdoyoulikebest?”saidI,suppressingmythirdorfourthyawn. “Idetestthemall!”repliedshe,shakingherbrightringletsinvivaciousscorn. “Thatmeans,Isuppose,‘Ilikethemall’—butwhichmost?” “No,IreallydetestthemallbutHarryMelthamisthehandsomestandmostamusing,andMr.Hatfieldthecleverest,SirThomasthewickedest,andMr.Greenthemoststupid.ButtheoneI’mtohave,Isuppose,ifI’mdoomedtohaveanyofthem,isSirThomasAshby.” “Surelynot,ifhe’ssowicked,andifyoudislikehim?” “Oh,Idon’tmindhisbeingwicked:he’sallthebetterforthatandasfordislikinghim—Ishouldn’tgreatlyobjecttobeingLadyAshbyofAshbyPark,ifImustmarry.ButifIcouldbealwaysyoung,Iwouldbealwayssingle.Ishouldliketoenjoymyselfthoroughly,andcoquetwithalltheworld,tillIamonthevergeofbeingcalledanoldmaidandthen,toescapetheinfamyofthat,afterhavingmadetenthousandconquests,tobreakalltheirheartssaveone,bymarryingsomehigh-born,rich,indulgenthusband,whom,ontheotherhand,fiftyladiesweredyingtohave.” “Well,aslongasyouentertaintheseviews,keepsinglebyallmeans,andnevermarryatall:noteventoescapetheinfamyofold-maidenhood.”