384 THE PORTKAIT OF A LADY. He looked among the dancers, and at last caught Pansy's eye. " She sees me, but she won't notice me," he then remarked. " Are you not dancing ? " " As you see, I'm a wall-flower." " Won't you dance with me 1 " " Thank you ; I would rather you should dance with my little maid." " One needn't prevent the other ; especially as she is engaged." " She is not engaged for everything, and you can reserve your- self. She dances very hard, and you will 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, ea.sy, important physiognomy ; and as Isabel observed him it came over her, as it had done before, that it was strange a man of his importance 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 shall 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 1 " "Ah, that's different. If you dance 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 will 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 are always laughing at it." " Amuse yourself with talking to me," said Isabel. " I am not sure that is a recreation. You are too pointed ; I have always to be defending myself. And you strike me as more than usually dangerous to-night. Won't you really dance] " " I can't leave my place. Pansy must find me here." He was silent a moment. " You are wonderfully good to her," he said, suddenly. Isabel stared a little, and smiled. " Can you imagine one's not being 1 "
