sort but mrs was an awful woman it used to make me perfectly sick to see the way she crammed those wretched girls down every man s throat and poor old used to get so hot and miserable and yet he always did exactly what she told him that woman was a caution you know elizabeth smiled again everything goes on just the same down there she said people never seem to change at all in i wonder if the with the colored body and wheels is going still said laughing it was the finest thing out to see poor old driving that with mrs and all the little inside then do you remember that dance at the at be continued throwing himself back in his chair sticking his long logs straight out in front of him and his fingers into his trousers pockets what a nice dance that was i i don t believe i ve ever enjoyed a ball so much since a h in and white � edward paused and sighed as if the memories of that ball were really almost too much for him elizabeth was trying to bestow all her attention upon her guest she looked tired and pale but she managed to keep up a certain show of interest in mr s numerous reminiscences glancing across at her from his arm chair felt more irritable than ever the conversation seemed to him in very poor taste the young squire s was small thought him rather a coarse person it was to suppose that ho should be in any way connected with mrs s past life pulled the head quite savagely off a flower as if that was to blame in some mysterious way for his present do you remember said again turning toward elizabeth � do you remember mrs the squire took a little too much of his own champagne at supper and just as wo were all going away he seized on poor dear old aunt maria and dragged her out into the middle of the room and said we d have another sir my word you know i don t believe i ever laughed so much in my life poor maria was in the most awful state ah i that was a good ball do you remember � began to that phrase � wanted you to give him a second and you d promised � all � mr checked himself suddenly and cleared his throat with a rather unsuccessful attempt at while he looked quickly across at again it seemed to strike him suddenly that he might be going a little too far had given oyer pulling the flowers to pieces and had picked up a book he was not reading he was watching his companions and wondering whether it would not be much wiser and more dignified just to get up and go he was evidently not wanted his position was a little ridiculous and yet there was something about elizabeth s appearance which made him very to stay there was a strangely blank look on her face which he could not understand if she had merely looked bored he would have thought it natural enough under the circumstances but she looked something more than bored had a conviction that a good deal was going on around him that ho could not at present then mrs was going away to morrow lie put his dignity in his pocket and decided to remain i ve never been back to since said mr leaning toward elizabeth slightly as he spoke i ve not seen any of the people for years but sometimes i think do you know mrs that i never enjoyed any time in my life so much as those two elizabeth s face flushed slightly she tried to smile but the attempt was not a very successful one there was an uncomfortable silence got up and stood with his hands behind him and his back to the mantel piece � giving a little kick with each foot to settle his trousers down into their proper place over his knees he cleared his throat again and looked at london s uncommonly full for the time of year he remarked oh � er � were you speaking to me asked a sketch in black and white putting up his eyebrows slightly and shutting his book perhaps london is full he added i really don t know it s not a subject i have very carefully considered edward contemplated the toes of his shoes for a moment it is remarkable how much inspiration a certain class of men seem to derive from the contemplation of their shoes then he looked at elizabeth for a minute rather he was not an observant person but he was aware that he and his companions were at sizes and he was an follow ho believed that there was a mistake somewhere he feared that he was putting his hostess in a false position he gave a little sigh and then said well i m going to settle down at last mrs you re such an old friend that i should like you just to wish me good luck and all that sort of thing you know he paused i m going to bo married i m going to marry my cousin she s a good little girl and � again paused i m sure he went on with a sort of rush if you should be up north any time and would look us up i m sure i � i mean she my cousin you know � bother it � my wife and i should be only too happy to see you and he added looking toward with a civil smile your husband � elizabeth started up she gave a low cry as if in actual pain husband she cried my husband what do you mean edward stared at her in utter he made a motion toward 