Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 02

								

came to the turn of Maltravers, the bandage did not conceal the blush and
smile of the enchanting goddess, and the hand of the aspirant thrilled as
it touched hers.
The children burst into screams of laughter when Cecilia gravely awarded
to Maltravers the worst prize in the lot,--a blue ribbon,--which Sophy,
however, greedily insisted on having; but Maltravers would not yield it.
Maltravers remained all day at the rectory, and shared in the ball,--yes,
he danced with Evelyn--he, Maltravers, who had never been known to dance
since he was twenty-two!  The ice was fairly broken,--Maltravers was at
home with the Mertons.  And when he took his solitary walk to his
solitary house--over the little bridge, and through the shadowy
wood--astonished, perhaps, with himself, every one of the guests, from
the oldest to the youngest, pronounced him delightful.  Caroline,
perhaps, might have been piqued some months ago that he did not dance
with her; but now, her heart--such as it was--felt preoccupied.

CHAPTER VI.


L'ESPRIT de l'homme est plus penetrant que consequent, et embrasse
plus qu'il ne peat lier.*--VAUVENARGUES.


* "The spirit of man is more penetrating than logical, and

    gathers more than it can garner."
AND now Maltravers was constantly with the Merton family; there was no
need of excuse for familiarity on his part.  Mr. Merton, charmed to find
his advances not rejected, thrust intimacy upon him.
One day they spent the afternoon at Burleigh, and Evelyn and Caroline
finished their survey of the house,--tapestry, and armour, pictures and
all.  This led to a visit to the Arabian horses.  Caroline observed that
she was very fond of riding, and went into ecstasies with one of the
animals,--the one, of course, with the longest tail.  The next day the
horse was in the stables at the rectory, and a gallant epistle apologized
for the costly gift.
Mr. Merton demurred, but Caroline always had her own way; and so the
horse remained (no doubt, in much amazement and disdain) with the
parson's pony, and the brown carriage horses.  The gift naturally
conduced to parties on horseback--it was cruel entirely to separate the
Arab from his friends--and how was Evelyn to be left behind?--Evelyn, who
had never yet ridden anything more spirited than an old pony!  A
beautiful little horse belonging to an elderly lady, now growing too
stout to ride, was to be sold hard by.  Maltravers discovered the
treasure, and apprised Mr. Merton of it--he was too delicate to affect
liberality to the rich heiress.  The horse was bought; nothing could go
quieter; Evelyn was not at all afraid.  They made two or three little
excursions.  Sometimes only Mr. Merton and Maltravers accompanied the
young ladies, sometimes the party was more numerous.  Maltravers appeared
to pay equal attention to Caroline and her friend; still Evelyn's
inexperience in equestrian matters was an excuse for his being ever by