"Here she comes." He almost said the words aloud as Mr.Bellairs brought her forward, but instantly felt disgusted with himself, and stepped back, almost determined not to look at her at all; yet, after all, he was positively curious, and then he must look at her by-and-by.

Too late now,--she was talking to Maurice,--always Maurice,--and had her back completely turned; there was nothing visible but the outline of a tall slight figure.

"Not ungraceful, certainly; but Mrs.Bellairs is graceful, and Miss Latour not bad; it must be walking so much.

What a gorilla that fellow looks! The women here are decidedly better than the men." His soliloquy stopped short.

Lucia had turned to look at something, and their eyes met.