第39部分(第7/8 頁)

　better　just　look　in　upon　her　before　any　of　the　ladies　go；”　said　Colonel　Dent。

“Tell　her；　Sam；　a　gentleman　is　ing。”

Sam　went　and　returned。

“She　says；　sir；　that　she’ll　have　no　gentlemen；　they　need　not　trouble　themselves　to　e　near　her；　nor；”　he　added；　with　difficulty　suppressing　a　titter；　“any　ladies　either；　except　the　young；　and　single。”

“By　Jove；　she　has　taste！”　exclaimed　Henry　Lynn。

Miss　Ingram　rose　solemnly：　“I　go　first；”　she　said；　in　a　tone　which　might　have　befitted　the　leader　of　a　forlorn　hope；　mounting　a　breach　in　the　van　of　his　men。

“Oh；　my　best！　oh；　my　dearest！　pause—reflect！”　was　her　mama’s　cry；　but　she　swept　past　her　in　stately　silence；　passed　through　the　door　which　Colonel　Dent　held　open；　and　we　heard　her　enter　the　library。

A　parative　silence　ensued。　Lady　Ingram　thought　it　“le　cas”　to　wring　her　hands：　which　she　did　accordingly。　Miss　Mary　declared　she　felt；　for　her　part；　she　never　dared　venture。　Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton　tittered　under　their　breath；　and　looked　a　little　frightened。

The　minutes　passed　very　slowly：　fifteen　were　counted　before　the　library…door　again　opened。　Miss　Ingram　returned　to　us　through　the　arch。

Would　she　laugh？　Would　she　take　it　as　a　joke？　All　eyes　met　her　with　a　glance　of　eager　curiosity；　and　she　met　all　eyes　with　one　of　rebuff　and　coldness；　she　looked　neither　flurried　nor　merry：　she　walked　stiffly　to　her　seat；　and　took　it　in　silence。

“Well；　Blanche？”　said　Lord　Ingram。

“What