' What am I to do ? Stay here. I will run upstairs,
and put them off.'

He ran up into the crush-room. The opera was just
over, and some parties who were not staying the ballet,
had already assembled there. As he passed along he was
stopped by Lady Fitz-pompey, who would not let snch a
capital opportunity escape of exhibiting' Caroline and the
young Duke together.
* Mr. Bulkley,' said her Ladyship, * there must bo some-
thing wrong about the carriage.' An experienced, middle-
aged gentleman, who jobbed on in society by being always
ready and knowing his cue, resigned the arm of Lady
Caroline St. Maurice and disappeared.
'George,* said Lady Fitz-pompey, 'give your arm to
Carry just for one moment.*
If it had been anybody but his cousin, the Duke would



— _j



2o8 THE YOUNG DUKE.
easily tuTQ escaped ; bnt Caroline he invariably treated
vrith marked regard ; perhaps because liis conscieiice oc-
casionally reproacbed bim that he had not treated her
with a stronger feeling. At fbis moment, too, alio was
the only being in the world, Mivo one, whom he coald
remember with satisfaction : he felt that he lored her most
aflbctionately, but somehow she did not inspire him with
those peculiar feelings which thrilled bia heart at tho re-
collection of May Dacro,

In this mood he oSercd an arm, which was accepted;
but be could not in a moment assume the tone of mind
befitting bia sitnation and tho scene. He was silent ; for
bim a remarkable circiLmstance.
