for I suffer greatly from the draught of your feathers."
To be rude is as good as being clever. The pleasure of repeating Mr. Marechal's reply quite consoled the lady for fetching her own cloak; and she moved off, to Emily's great satisfaction, which satisfaction had, however, to stand the test of another very dull half hour. Long before any less interested glance could have discovered his entrance, her eye rested on Lorraine. "O how superior he looks to every one else!" was her first thought. The next moment cheek and eye brightened with pleasure—for he crossed the room, engaged her for the next dance, and took his place by her side.
Alas! we give our own colouring to the actions of others. Edward acted upon a mere kindly impulse. He saw Miss Arundel sitting by herself, and looking with a weariness worthy of a watch-tower. There was as much pity as preference in his choice: but the one is a much more flattering reason to assign than the other. Can we wonder that at nineteen Emily drew the pleasanter conclusion? With spirits and smiles equally bright, she took the wreath that night from her hair. Too excited for sleep,
