NEVER FORGOTTEN.

PART THE FIRST.

CHAPTER XXI. THE SISTERS' "COUNCIL."

THAT dance was done. The orchestra came
over hurriedly, at last released. Her lip was
compressed, and her eye severe. Fermor got
up, and, with a curious flush in his face, moved
away. Hanbury, " hanging about" undecidedly
for a time, seemed to draw near in gradually
narrowing circles, and finally stood before Violet
with a piteous injured look. He found
comfort in the sudden change in her manner. She
was excited; talked and smiled. She was eager
to dance, and accepted when he proposed it.
Her manner, however, was "distracted," and
though she answered him a little at random, he
accepted her smiles in place of a more direct
answer. Her sister, delighted, again
volunteered to step into the orchestra, and, looking
with beaming face over the little cottage piano,
poured forth a mad tantalising galop, that
challenged every foot in the room. It was only
"a carpet dance;" but presently the Miss
Campbells, each armed with a military boy,
were hurrying round, their dresses sweeping the
faces of older dames who were seated. Major
Carter looked on in delight. " 'Pon my word,"
he said, " this is surprising; quite a gay little
rout! Come on me by surprise!"

Fermor's heart was beating as he looked on.
"Won't do," said Captain Thersites, passing
him. " Poor Fermor! Look over there."

Fermor looked after him with triumph and
contempt. " Fool to the last!" he thought. " This
will crush him for ever." And for many
minutes he enjoyed the thought.

At one o'clock came in a few emaciated ices,
and some phials of coloured sugar and water—
"sorbets" on the French plan. Abundance,
however, was supplied, or the poverty of material
covered by the triumph of the entry, which was
in all the clatter of ice-spoons and the jingling
of innumerable glasses. With which was mixed
up the voice of Major Carter, chanting an
anthem: " Take an ice! do take an ice. Let
me get you a sorbet. Paris over again. I am
afraid I am a Frenchman. Do have an ice, &c."

It was a very happy little evening; such good
humour on all sides. Not till nearly two did
they go away.

Hanbury drifted after the Manuels down
stairs out to their carriage, like a heavy beam of
wood. Rude joy was on his broad honest face,
yet he was a little doubtful and mystified. As
they went down, the elder girl had just
opportunity to whisper with delightful anticipation,
"Well? all settled, I know." To whom John
answered as secretly and as ecstatically, " When
we get home." And, while Hanbury was getting
her cloak, Miss Manuel turned to her brother,
and, in the same delighted whisper, told him,
"All settled. Poor good John. How happy
he is."

Afterwards, there was a sort of hurried
conclave sitting in the eldest Miss Manuel's room
—a wild flurried meeting. The mother, Mrs.
Manuel, was called in to listen. " I knew it,"
said the younger girl, rapturously. " I told you
all so, in spite of all you said, and all you
prophesied. Now has he not redeemed
himself?" and she looked round on them all, from
one to the other, very triumphantly. Her eyes
were glistening, her cheeks glowing; she was
curiously excited, as, indeed, a very small
occasion would excite. She was the heroine of
the moment. Her face seemed to play with
repeated flashes of light. She was like a child in
her joy, and she walked up and down before
them, in little quick short marches. The
others looked on her with pride, and yet with
sadness.

"Yes, dear," said her sister, " you were
right—and will be very happy—but the only
thing is, I am thinking——"

The younger girl stopped her. " Now for the
difficulties," she said, smiling, " you dear, wise,
old-fashioned Pauline. You are going to give
me advice. I know you are."

"No, indeed," said the other; "but I am
thinking—and I cannot help thinking—of poor,
poor John. What is to be done with him?"

Violet's eyes were suddenly cast upon the
ground. For a few moments there was silence.

"I have thought of him," she said, "and,
indeed, I am very sorry. He is so good, so
kind, and so generous. But I could not help
it, you know, dearest Pauline, I could not. I
did not know my own mind, and thought I
liked him."

Her brother, who had come in, was now standing
in the doorway.

"There is the misfortune," he said, gravely.