Betts was permitted to assist at her toilette. It was a
silent process this evening, and the penetration of the waiting-woman
was at fault when she took furtive glances in the mirror at the subdued
face that never smiled once, not even at its own beauty. She gave Lady
Angleby an exact account of what had passed, and added for
interpretation, "Miss Fairfax was surprised and sorry, I'm sure. I
should say she believed Miss Julia Gardiner to be attached to somebody
else. The only question she asked was, Did I think she would be happy?"
Lady Angleby could extract nothing out of this.
Every one was aware of a change in Bessie when she went into the
drawing-room; she felt as one feels who has heard bad news, and must
conceal the impression of it. But the visible effect was that her
original shyness seemed to have returned with more than her original
pride, and she blushed vividly when Mr. Cecil Burleigh made her a low
bow of compliment on her beautiful appearance. Mr. Fairfax had enriched
his granddaughter that day with a suite of fine pearls, once his sister
Dorothy's, and Bessie had not been able to deny herself the ornament of
them, shining on her neck and arms. Her dress was white and bright as
sea-foam in sunshine, but her own inimitable blooming freshness made her
dress to be scarcely at all regarded. Every day at this period added
something to her loveliness--the loveliness of youth, health, grace, and
a good nature.
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