CHAPTER LI.
A WARNING.
A few evenings afterward, when Abel called to know how the ladies had borne the fatigues of the feast, Mrs.Plumer said, with smiles, that it was a kind of fatigue ladies bore without flinching.

Miss Grace, who was sitting upon a sofa by the side of Sligo Moultrie, said that it was one of the feasts at which young women especially are supposed to be perfectly happy.

She emphasized the last words, and her bright black eyes opened wide upon Mr.Abel Newt, who could not tell if he saw mischievous malice or a secret triumph and sense release in them.
"Oh!" said he, gayly, "it would be too much for me hope to make any ladies, and especially young ladies, perfectly happy." And he returned Miss Plumer's look with a keen glance masked in merriment.
Sligo Moultrie wagged his foot.
"There now is conscious power!" said Abel, with a laugh, as he pointed at Miss Plumer's companion.
They all laughed, but not very heartily.

There appeared to be some meaning lurking in whatever was said; and like all half-concealed meanings, it seemed, perhaps, even more significant than it really was.
Abel was very brilliant, and told more and better stories than usual.
Mrs.Plumer listened and laughed, and declared that he was certainly the best company she had met for a long time.

Nor were Miss Plumer and Mr.
Moultrie reluctant to join the conversation.