Lecture on Botany from the Walking Cyclopaedia--bravo! We had better scrape up all our learning, to prove we are not perfect ignoramuses on the subject." Caroline laughingly agreed; and the quadrille being finished, Lord Henry succeeded in persuading her to accompany him to the refreshment-room.
In the meanwhile, perfectly unconscious that he had been the subject of the animated conversation of his _vis a vis_, St.Eval was finding more and more to admire in Miss Hamilton.

He conducted his partner to her seat as she desired, and then strolled towards Mr.Hamilton's party, in the hope that Caroline would soon rejoin her mother; but Annie had been in the refreshment-room, and she did not reappear for some little time.
Mrs.Hamilton had at length been enabled to seek Lady Helen Grahame, with whom she remained conversing, for she felt, though the delay was unavoidable, she partly deserved the reproach with which Lady Helen greeted her, when she entered, for permitting the whole evening to pass without coming near her.

Mrs.Hamilton perceived, with regret, that she was more fitted for the quiet of her own boudoir, than the glare and heat of crowded rooms.

Gently she ventured to expostulate with her on her endeavours, and Lady Helen acknowledged she felt quite unequal to the exertion, but that the persuasions of her daughter had brought her there.

She was too indolent to add, she had seen nothing of Annie the whole evening; nor did she wish to say anything that might increase the disapprobation with which she sometimes felt, though Annie heeded it not, Mrs.Hamilton regarded her child.