‘She’s not engaged for everything, and you can reserve yourself. She dances very hard, and you’ll be the fresher.’

‘She dances beautifully,’ said Lord Warburton, following her with his eyes. ‘Ah, at last,’ he added, ‘she has given me a smile.’ He stood there with his handsome, easy, important physiognomy; and as Isabel observed him it came over her, as it had done before, that it was strange a man of his mettle should take an interest in a little maid. It struck her as a great incongruity; neither Pansy’s small fascinations, nor his own kindness, his good-nature, not even his need for amusement, which was extreme and constant, were sufficient to account for it. ‘I should like to dance with you,’ he went on in a moment, turning back to Isabel; ‘but I think I like even better to talk with you.’

‘Yes, it’s better, and it’s more worthy of your dignity. Great statesmen oughtn’t to waltz.’

‘Don’t be cruel. Why did you recommend me then to dance with Miss Osmond?’

‘Ah, that’s different. If you danced with her it would look simply like a piece of kindness—as if you were doing it for her amusement. If you dance with me you’ll look as if you were doing it for your own.’

‘And pray haven’t I a right to amuse myself?’

‘No, not with the affairs of the British Empire on your hands.’

‘The British Empire be hanged! You’re always laughing at it.’

‘Amuse yourself with talking to me,’ said Isabel.

‘I’m not sure it’s really a recreation. You’re too pointed; I’ve always to be defending myself. And you strike me as more than usually dangerous to-night. Will you absolutely not dance?’

‘I can’t leave my place. Pansy must find me here.’

He was silent a little. ‘You’re wonderfully good to her,’ he said suddenly.

Isabel stared a little and smiled. ‘Can you imagine one’s not being?’

‘No indeed. I know how one is charmed with her. But you must have done a great deal for her.’

‘I’ve taken her out with me,’ said Isabel, smiling still. ‘And I’ve seen that she has proper clothes.’

‘Your society must have been a great benefit to her. You’ve talked to her, advised her, helped her to develop.’

‘Ah yes, if she isn’t the rose she has lived near it.’

She laughed, and her companion did as much; but there was a certain visible preoccupation in his face which interfered with complete hilarity. ‘We all try to live as near it as we can,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation.

Isabel turned away; Pansy was about to be restored to her, and she welcomed the diversion. We know how much she liked Lord Warburton; she thought him pleasanter even than the sum of his merits warranted; there was something in his friendship that appeared a kind of resource in case of indefinite need; it was like having a large balance at the bank. She felt happier when he was in the room; there was something reassuring in his approach; the sound of his voice reminded her of the beneficence of nature. Yet for all that it didn’t suit her that he should be too near her, that he should take too much of her good-will for granted. She was afraid of that; she averted herself from it; she wished he wouldn’t. She felt that if he should come too near, as it were, it might be in her to flash out and bid him keep his distance. Pansy