names. Besides, I can't think why this Princess should invite me. of her personally." I know nothing "Perhaps she knows some of our friends." "Her circle is said to be exclusively aristocratic; and what could have induced her to invite a merchant and his daughter ?" "Do go, dear papa!" cried Helen in her coaxing tone. "Ay, do, Mr. Cameron!" echoed Miss Meldrum. "It is no question-of ten thousand pounds." The gleam of humour in her black eyes seemed to say: "It is only a question of right or wrong; and surely that is not worth ten thousand pounds!" "If you love me, you'll go, papa," said Helen. "Surely, my darling, you don't require such a test of my love," said Mr. Cameron smiling. "Yes, but I do, papa," answered Helen, returning his look with an arch one of her own: "ever since yesterday I am in horrible doubts about it; and I believe that you don't love me at all, you naughty papa. Do you now ?" "No, puss, I don't.” "You owe me some reparation for breaking your promise yesterday," continued Helen: "take me to the ball; and I'll forgive you." She ended by going up to him, and throwing her arms round his neck. Miss Meldrum looked at the two with amusement plainly written on her face. She believed that Mr. Cameron would yield. But she was mistaken for once. On a point touching Helen's highest welfare he could be firmer than on most other things; and all that Helen's coaxing and wheedling could wring out of him was a promise that he would think the matter over. CHAPTER IV. CAPTAIN MALEENOVSKY. "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." SHAKSPERE. SOON after breakfast, Mr. Cameron went away; and, when the breakfast-things had been removed, Miss Meldrum and Helen sat down to their studies. But Helen could not fix her thoughts on what she read. She kept thinking of all she had seen the day before. Though Captain Maleenoysky had touched only her imagination, it did not follow that she was out of danger. There was some danger of his monopolising her thoughts at least. That handsome figure, in the brilliant uniform, kept dancing before her eyes in such absurd fashion, that it hid the letters on which they ought to have been fixed. It was quite a new thing in Helen's experience. As a rule, she was a diligent student. A gay coquette, a diligent student: there's a contradiction for you! But, then, Helen was, as yet, a mass of contradictions; and would be, till some one masterpassion began to sway her soul. It seemed a relief to her when Frederick Randal came in. Not that Fred was just then in harmony with the current of her thoughts; but he released her from the irksome task of fixing those thoughts on something still more foreign to her mood. Fred was not in the best of tempers, and did nothing to raise himself in Helen's eyes. The Feast of the Jordan had not passed off pleasantly for him. He was still sore about the dashing young officer, who had come in between him and Helen, and neatly bowled him out. A painful impression had for some time been forcing itself upon him: that Helen Cameron, with all her loveliness, was a heartless coquette. That thought had been driven deeper the day before. He had been wronged: Helen had no right to be so kind and gracious to a stranger. His own long devotion to her had deserved a better return. Who was Helen Cameron, that she should flout him as she did? There were plenty of other girls in the world, who would be glad enough to have him. Was there not sweet Jenny Cameron, Helen's own cousin, who, if he could believe his sister, was ready to drop into his mouth, without giving him the trouble of plucking her? Fred had come, big with a brave resolve to trot out his wrongs before Helen, and have them righted at last. He would seek an explanation: she should shilly-shally no longer. But scarcely had he begun to speak, when Natalia came in, with a card in her hand. There was a flutter in Helen's heart, as she glanced at the card; and she could not hinder a gleam of joy from lighting up her face. She never could hide her feelings, poor girl! Fred was watching her keenly, jealously. A gentleman's card! "His coming seems to give you great pleasure, whoever it is," he said, somewhat bitterly: "who is it ?" "It is only Captain Maleenovsky, who was so polite to us yesterday," answered Helen, trying, in vain, to appear cool and unconcerned. Poor Randal was at his wits' end. He had been most anxious to have his explanation with Helen before she could see Captain Maleenovsky again. What was he to do? Well, he did about the most foolish thing which he could have done. "Helen, you will not see him!" he said. |