Let me go to Charles,' answered Guy. 'Perhaps I can read him to sleep.'
'Thank you; but don't talk, or he will be too excited. Reading would be the very thing! It will be a pretty story to tell every one who asks for you that I have left you to nurse my son!'
'No, for no such good reason,' said Guy; 'only because I am a great fool.'
'Well, Sir Guy, I am glad you can say one sensible word,' said Lady Eveleen.
'Too true, I assure you,' he answered, as he handed her in. 'Good night! You will keep the quadrille for me till I am rational.'
He handed the others in, and shut the door. Mrs. Edmonstone, ruffled out of her composure, exclaimed,—
'Well, this is provoking!'
'Every one will be vexed,' said Laura.
'It will be so stupid,' said Amy.
'I give him up,' said Eveleen. 'I once had hopes of him.'
'If it was not for papa, I really would turn back this moment and fetch him,' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, starting forward. 'I'm sure it will give offence. I wish I had not consented.'
'He can't be made to see that his presence is of importance to any living creature,' said Laura.
'What is the reason of this whim?' said Eveleen.
'No, Eveleen, it is not whim,' said Laura; 'it is because he thinks dissipation makes him idle.'
'Then if he is idle I wonder what the rest of the world is!' said Eveleen. 'I am sure we all ought to stay at home too.'
'I think so,' said Amy. 'I know I shall feel all night as if I was wrong to be there.'
'I am angry,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'and yet I believe it is a great sacrifice.'
'Yes, mamma; after all our looking forward to it,' said Amy. 'Oh! yes,' and her voice lost its piteous tone, 'it is a real sacrifice.'
'If he was not a mere boy, I should say a lover's quarrel was at the bottom of it,' said Eveleen. 'Depend upon it, Laura, it is all your fault. You only danced once with him
