Julia  De  Clifl^ord,  attracted,  like  others,
by  this  liberal  exhibition  of  striking  beauty,
looked  until  burning  blushes  tinged  her
cheeks;  and,  humbled  at  such  a  degradation
to  her  sex's  delicacy,  turned  away  ashamed.
Mrs.  Goodwin  felt  a  secret  joy  that  RoSa
w^as  not  there,  to  see  immodesty  counte-
nanced by  rank;  and  Doctor  Sydenham
felt  highly  indignant,  **  that  one  of  the  Cy-
prian corps  had  been  thus  incautiously  ad-
mitted, in  a  mistake,  as  one  of  the  Dutchess
of  Springcourt's  party."

The  second  dance  had  been  commenced
some  time ;  it  was  a  Scotch  or  Irish  rant,


287

of  inconceivable  fatigue;  yet  Julia  had
seen  Lady  Gay  thorn  dance  it  down  with
unsubdued  spirit ;  and  now,  to  her  utter
astonishment,  Lord  Francis  Loraine  hastily
advanced  to  her,  vvith^an  entreaty  that  she
would  go  immediately  to  Lady  Gay  thorn,
who  was  taken  suddenly  and  extremely  ill.
"  Shall  I,  too,  attend  her  ladyship  r"  ask-
ed Mrs.  Goodwin,  good-naturedly.
