"Don't talk about admiration, uncle; that is not the word for it; I don't know what it was like.

They say snakes fascinate birds before they eat them by fixing their eyes upon them.

I should say it was something of that sort of look." "Well, my dear, he is not going to eat you, that is certain," the Major said; "and I can assure you that his approbation goes for a great deal here, and that after this you will go up several pegs in Cawnpore society." Isobel tossed her head.

"Then I am sorry for Cawnpore society; it is a matter of entire indifference to me whether I go up or down in its opinion." A fortnight later the Nana gave another entertainment.

A good deal to her uncle's vexation, Isobel refused to go when the time came.
"But what am I to say, my dear ?" he asked in some perplexity.
"You can say anything you like, uncle; you can say that I am feeling the heat and have got a bad headache, which is true; or you can say that I don't care for gayety, which is also true.