Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 366: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BALL d49 has struck up in the ballroom. I must go and get Mrs. Denison to find a suitable partner for ycur young friend here, for of course he dances.”’ A splendid band, which had been procured from Lincoln, had commenced playing at the moment when Mr. Denison spoke of it; and the company were beginning to move through the immense folding doors of the saloon into the adjacent. apartment, where the dancing was to take place. Mr. Denison, retracing his way across the saloon, returned to the antercom, where his wife was receiving the guests. At this moment the footman announced Lady Saxondale and the Honourable Miss Farefield. Mr. and Mrs. Denison hastened forward to receive these two brilliant arrivals, and when the usual greetings were exchanged, the lady of the mansion said, ‘ But how is it that Lord Harold Staunton is not with you? I felt certain that your ladyship would have ensured us the honour of his presence.”’ ‘He went on a fishing excursion yesterday,” responded Lady Saxondale, “ remained out till late and caught a severe cold. [I can assure you, my dear Mrs. Denison, that he deeply regrets his inability to wait upon you this evening. I am afraid we ourselves are rather late, — the company appears to be already numerous —.”’ “The ball is about to open,’ responded Mrs. Denison. Then addressing herself to Juliana, she said, ‘‘ Will you permit me to introduce as your partner, for the first quadrille, such a charming acquisition which we have received this evening, and whom Mr. Hawkshaw brought us? ”’ “Indeed! ’’ said Juliana, with a smile, for she little sus- pected what she was about to hear. ‘‘ Who is this phoenix of whom you are speaking? ”’ “ Mr. Paton,” replied Mrs. Denison. ‘ Look! he is stand- ing at the farther extremity of the saloon, talking to Lord Blackwater and Sir John Knightley. What an elegant youth.” Fortunate was it alike for Juliana and Lady Saxondale that at the very moment Mrs. Denison mentioned the name of Paton, both she and her husband turned their heads to look through the wide open doorway into the saloon where the youth was standing. For while on the one hand Lady Saxondale turned pale, on the other hand the colour mounted in its deepest crimson glow to her daughter’s ) CONnNIEOOOKS (S(O)