CHAPTER 43
Three nights after this she took Pansy to a great party, to which
Osmond, who never went to dances, did not accompany them. Pansy was as
ready for a dance as ever; was not of a generalizing turn and had
not extended to other pleasures the interdict she had seen placed on
those of love. If she was biding her time or hoping to circumvent
her father she must have had a prevision of success. Isabel thought
this unlikely; it was much more likely that Pansy had simply
determined to be a good girl. She had never had such a chance, and she
had a proper esteem for chances. She carried herself no less
attentively than usual and kept no less anxious an eye upon her
vaporous skirts; she held her bouquet very tight and counted over
the flowers for the twentieth time. She made Isabel feel old; it
seemed so long since she had been in a flutter about a ball. Pansy,
who was greatly admired, was never in want of partners, and very
soon after their arrival she gave Isabel, who was not dancing, her
bouquet to hold. Isabel had rendered her this service for some minutes
when she became aware of the near presence of Edward Rosier. He
stood before her; he had lost his affable smile and wore a look of
almost military resolution.
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