Aminta was unable to tell herself why.
Mrs.Lawrence Finchley had been announced.

On her way to the drawing room Aminta's brain fell upon a series of dots, that wound along a track to the point where she accused herself of a repented coquettry--cause of the burning letters she was doomed to receive and could not stop without rousing her lion.

She dotted backwards; there was no sign that she had been guilty of any weakness other than the almost--at least, in design--innocent first move, which had failed to touch Lord Ormont in the smallest degree.

Never failure more absolute! She was about to inquire of her bosom's oracle whether she greatly cared now.

For an answer, her brain went dotting along from Mr.Cuper's school, and a boy named Abner there, and a boy named Matey Weyburn, who protected the little Jew-boy, up to Mr.Abner in London, who recommended him in due season to various acquaintances; among them to Lady Charlotte Eglett.