"Yes—very—that is, I mean rather so," answered Madeline, blushing, and bending her eyes to the ground.
They now reached a large party, amongst whom was Mademoiselle Chatteneuf. She rallied Madeline for having so long hidden herself;—"you certainly did so (said she), to tease and mortify those who wished to engage you to dance: were you not a total stranger, I should suspect that you and some sighing swain had been courting the rural shades together."
The Countess smiled significantly at Madeline, who, oppressed by consciousness, turned away her head.
Mademoiselle Chatteneuf now introduced a gentleman who wished to engage her for the ensuing dance. Madeline hesitated how to answer, not merely to avoid dancing, but on de Sevignie's account, to whom she considered herself engaged, though she feared
