The Manoeuvring Mother (Vol. 1-3). Lady Charlotte Campbell Bury
dear, the smile would kill me. I can't smile at Spottiswoode, to show him his power, and make him impudent. No, I cannot smile yet, Julia."
"There, Penelope, he has asked Lady Anna to dance, and they are standing up! You have lost him by your foolish coquetting, upon my honour!"
Miss Wycherly turned pale, but her feelings struggled with pride. "Oh, well then, let him dance away, I care not. It is of little consequence whether Mr. Spottiswoode prefers Lady Anna or myself. I shall not condescend to beg pardon for any thing I chose to say to a silly creature, who cannot command his temper."
"For shame, Penelope! you do care, and you do mind Mr. Spottiswoode dancing with Lady Anna; when the dance is ended, tell him you have done wrong."
"He might have seen by my looks, Julia, I was not in earnest, or, at least, that I did not mean him to think so."
"Then tell him so, Penelope."
"Not I, indeed. I never will submit to own myself wrong to a man before marriage, or after either, if I can help it. Spottiswoode may rue the hour he offended me, for never will I condescend to ask him to return to a woman whom he chooses to leave for such a person as Lady Anna. Any other girl I could have borne patiently. This I will not forgive, for he knew it would vex me! hang me, à la Pynsent, if I do not repay him in kind."
"I can be of no further use, Penelope?"
"None, Julia, but I thank you for what you have done, though it has proved ineffectual. Do not let me detain you from your party."
Julia endeavoured to appease her companion, but her lover's careless indifference gave deep offence to Miss Wycherly, and she persisted in maintaining an equal appearance of light-hearted manner, to deceive and distress Mr. Spottiswoode. She was not long without materials to assist her design; Mr. Henry Tyndal again applying to her, Miss Wycherly accepted him as a partner, and she passed her lover in the country dance with inimitably affected composure and gaiety. How did that really attached couple endeavour to vie with each other in assuming a coldness foreign to their hearts; and how wretchedly did they pass the remainder of the evening in a state of miserable watching and suffering! Miss Wycherly, in her most laughing dialogue with Henry Tyndal, cast perturbed and anxious looks towards Lady Anna Herbert, who was listening with smiling and marked attention to Mr. Spottiswoode's compliments. Her heart felt withered, yet she redoubled her gaiety; Miss Wycherly was almost noisy in her mirth, and the sound of her voice disturbed the serenity of Mr. Spottiswoode, and made him falter in his own sallies. Lady Anna rebuked him.
"How now, Mr. Spottiswoode! you have said the same thing three times consecutively. What am I to understand by this absence of ideas?"
"You have confounded them, Lady Anna."
"I did not flatter myself I had power to confound your learned mind, Mr. Spottiswoode," returned the lady.
"I shall not be the first, nor the last, whom your ladyship has confounded; all our heads become turned in your society."
"Very well; I declare I shall tell Miss Wycherly how you flirt."
"Pray do, Lady Anna; Miss Wycherly is coming down with Mr. Tyndal."
"Very well; Miss Wycherly, what do you think Mr. Spottiswoode says?"
"Cross hands and back again, and never mind what Mr. Spottiswoode says," said Miss Wycherly. "I am flying down the middle." Away she went.
"I saw Miss Wycherly did not touch you in cross hands, Mr. Spottiswoode, but here she comes again."
The party made their poussette in high glee, Miss Wycherly appearing wholly engaged in some joke with Henry Tyndal, and Mr. Spottiswoode showering compliments upon Lady Anna. Tom Pynsent and Anna Maria, who stood near the set, and heard the dialogue, were much amused.
"Cousin Pen has quarrelled with Spottiswoode," he remarked, "and there will be a pretty battle; hear how he is laying it into Lady Anna Herbert. I should not like quarrelling, should you, Miss Wetheral?"
"Oh, no, surely not."
"Quarrelling is a rum sort of going on, Miss Wetheral. I don't think you ever quarrel."
"Never, when I have my own way," replied Miss Wetheral, smiling.
"I'm sure my wife would have her own way, if that was all she cared about, Miss Wetheral."
Miss Wetheral was silent.
"I wish I was married to a woman who would be good-natured, and not given to be huffed upon all occasions," resumed Tom Pynsent. "I think a bachelor's life very uncomfortable."
Miss Wetheral trembled violently, but she loved Tom Pynsent too fondly to be able to assist his meaning; her heart beat audibly, but she remained silent.
"You ride on horseback, Miss Wetheral, very often, don't you?"
"Yes, frequently."
"I wish you would let me ride with you; I am sure you do not know half the country about Wetheral. I suppose I may escort you, Miss Wetheral?" Tom Pynsent began to feel great stoutness of heart, in proportion as Anna Maria grew timid and embarrassed.
"I shall be happy—we shall feel——." She hesitated.
"To be sure; well, then, I shall be at Wetheral to-morrow, and, if you are not fatigued, I will show you a monstrous fine view."
"But your hunting-day is to-morrow, Mr. Pynsent."
"Never mind hunting for a day or so, Miss Wetheral; I don't mind being laughed at. I want very much to show you that view, so mind we are engaged to-morrow."
How lightly did Miss Wetheral's heart beat at that moment! how was she repaid for months of miserable feeling!
It was during the bustle of breaking up, that Miss Wycherly glided towards Julia, and unbosomed her feelings.
"My dear soul, I am the most wretched woman existing; that creature has vexed me to the soul with his flirtation, and my only hope is that I have given him a tweak in return."
"Take care, Penelope!"
"Oh, I shall care about nothing but repiquing. As long as Spottiswoode flirts with Lady Anna, so long I shall flirt with that half spoony Tyndal junior, if my heart breaks under it. How happy you are, Julia, and how miserable am I! You have chained your lover, whereas, mine bounds away at a touch. Now, there, look at him, cloaking Lady Anna, as if she was made of spun glass, and bringing her just under my very eyes. I will bear that man's insult with perfect gaiety—watch me now—good night!"
Miss Wycherly passed on with apparent light-heartedness, and addressed Lady Anna Herbert.
"How you have footed it this night, Lady Anna! Mr. Henry Tyndal declares you are the pride of Shropshire in a ball-room. I was quite jealous. Lord Farnborough is waiting for you, with Lady Jessy, but I shall tell them you are too agreeably occupied to move away yet."
"Oh, no, really I am quite ready," replied her ladyship: "but Mr. Spottiswoode's compliments are so lengthy, they will never arrive at a conclusion; what do you think he has been saying?"
"Oh, I guess, Lady Anna.
"'Will ye gang to the bourne, Marion,
Will ye gang to the bourne with me?'
"I can't continue the song, for my father beckons, but fare you well." Miss Wycherly kissed her hand playfully, and walked gaily up the room, which was thinning very fast.
"That was excellently done," observed Lady Ennismore to Julia, as they proceeded to the carriage, "but it will cost your friend her night's rest, and her lover into the bargain. That fragment of song, and the careless manner which accompanied its delivery, will throw the gentleman into Lady Anna's power."
Anna Maria was escorted to the carriage by Tom Pynsent, and Lady Wetheral triumphantly and delightedly invited him to Wetheral, whenever he felt inclined to do them honour by his presence.
"Certainly, Mr. Pynsent, Lady Spottiswoode's parties bear away the bell amongst us; every