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44 don't like, merely to please me. Only, if Elizabeth doesn't marry next year"—here she laughed again, and cast another meaning glance towards her niece—"we really must give a ball, or something, to introduce her to the county."

Elizabeth interposed resolutely.

"Certainly not, aunt. If you think of doing anything of the sort, I shall go away. Uncle William isn't to bo bothered on my account. I don't want balls, and I can get on very well without knowing all the county,"

"Well," said her aunt, who had just opened and read another letter which the post had brought, "if you don't want to know all the county, the Head and Front of the county wants to know you. Here is a second invitation from the duchess to Colesover Castle! She says they are to have a dance there on the 20th. It is too amusing! She has never taken the least notice of me till now. You are the attraction, Bessie."

"Nonsense, aunt! How can you talk so?"

"But it's true, my dear. She wants you for Lord Robert. Well, we shall see what he is like. I'm told he is horribly ugly; but that," she added, with her ringing little laugh, "is of course of no importance with such a lot of brains, and the noble blood of the Eltons. It can't signify how ugly and misshapen he is!" Then turning to the placid William, she continued, "Shall I fetch Colonel Wybrowe from the station, or will you? He comes earlier than the rest, for whom, of course, you will send the omnibus."

The reply she knew beforehand. Had she not known it, she would not have asked the question.