BUT--again--flushing prettily--was he certain that the expedition
would not bore him? Doubtless he had had some other engagement in
prospect for the evening, before he stumbled over her. He ought to
know her well enough not to disguise his real wishes by gallant
phrases.
"I have never been otherwise than sincere with you," Frederic said,
honestly; "I had thought of going to the levee alone, as a possible
method of whiling away an idle evening. If you will allow me to
accompany you thither, I shall be gratified--shall derive actual
pleasure from the motley scene. It will not be the only time you and
I have studied varieties of physiognomy and character in a mixed
assembly. Do you recollect the hops at the Rockbridge Alum Springs?"
"I do," replied Rosa, laconically and very soberly.
He thought she suppressed a sigh in saying it. She was a
warm-hearted little creature with all her vagaries, and he was less
inclined to reject her unobtrusive sympathy than if a more sedate or
prudent person had proffered it.
It was certain he could not have selected a more entertaining
associate for that evening. She amused him in spite of the painful
recollections revived by their intercourse. She did not pass
unobserved in the dense crowd that packed the lower floor of the
White House. Her face, all glee and sparkle, the varied music of her
soft Southern tongue, her becoming attire--were, in turn, the
subject of eulogistic comment among the most distinguished
connoisseurs present. It was not probable that these should all be
unheard by her cavalier, or that he should listen to them with
profound indifference.
He was astonished, therefore, when she protested that she had had
"enough of it," and proposed that they should extricate themselves
from the press and go home. It was contrary to the commonly received
tenets of his sex respecting the insatiable nature of feminine
vanity, that she should weary so soon of adulation which would have
rendered a light head dizzy. Mrs. Mason was not ready to leave the
halls of mirth. She had met scores of old friends, and was having a
"nice, sociable time" in a corner, while Mrs. Cunningham had "not
begun to enjoy herself, looking at the queer people and the superb
dresses."
Of course, they had no objection to their wilful relative doing as
she liked, but did not conceal their amazement at her bad taste.
"Take the carriage, dear! You'll find it around out there
somewhere," drawled the easy-tempered aunt. "And let Thomas come
back for us. He will be in time an hour from this."