HONOR BLAKE.. H CHAPTER I. A HAPPY WINTER. ONOR did not forget the conclusion of the opposite side of the garden, that where the Bertrams had formerly lived, seemed suitable; and after some little correspondence Lady Tracy engaged it, and Honor busied herself with extreme pleasure in arranging the details, so that her old friend should be comfortable. Conny joined with very good-will in this task. The advent of a 'Miladi,' their cousin, gave no little éclat to the Blakes in the small world of Bayonne, and quite counterbalanced any invidious remarks which might have been made upon their intimacy with Miss Bertram. Conny was by no means indifferent to the advantages she might reap from Lady Tracy's visit-very anxious to conciliate her, and even, if we must tell all the truth, not without speculations as to the possible effect of her own charms on Mr. Tracy's mind. She worried Honor with continual questions about that young man's profession, prospects, and supposed income; questions of which Honor could not in the least understand the motive (she never did understand Conny), and could not at all answer. It was late in October when Lady Tracy arrived at Bayonne. Her son accompanied her, but only to stay there a week. He came again however for a long Christmas holiday, and that was a charming time for them all. Hospitable Bayonne society had received Lady Tracy with open arms. Her manners and conversation made her very popular, and the popularity rose to furore when she celebrated the Christmas season by all sorts of little entertainments 'à l'Anglais,' a Christmas-tree party and charades, besides dances. The Bayonne season began a full month earlier than its wont, stimulated by her example, and the desire to secure so charming a cavalier as Monsieur Tracy for the balls, where cavaliers were something scarce, and often the reverse of charming. Honor told Lady Tracy frankly she never went to balls, and underwent a strict crossexamination as to her reasons. Really and truly, then, it is not M. Voisin, nor yet Père-whatever your friend Sister Justine's oracle is called?' I will tell you 'No; really and truly not. the whole story;' and Honor related the history of her first ball. 'Very well,' replied Lady Tracy; 'that is not difficult to understand. I am not prepared to advise any young lady to spend her whole available capital on a ball-dress, still less to go to a ball when she cannot dance.' No more was said at the moment, but two days afterward Lady Tracy begged Honor to accompany her alone to Bayonne, and there, entering a house in the Place, and ascending to the first floor, she asked for 'Madame Duvier.' 'I have brought you a pupil, Madame,' she said. 'Have the shoes I ordered come?' Madame Duvier indicated a heap of dancingshoes on a side-table. Try on a pair, my dear,' continued Lady Tracy to Honor, and take your lesson. Be a good girl, and do your best. I will call for you in an hour;' and she left the room. These lessons were repeated every day for a fortnight (it was Honor's holiday-time), and then Madame Duvier pronounced her pupil capable of appearing creditably in any ball-room. 'That is all you want, my dear,' said the kind old cousin. 'You do not desire to be a Vestris, and if you did, I don't fancy you will ever dance into anybody's heart, so it is as well you don't, is it not?' Then Mrs. Robertson, formerly Isabel Wedderburn, now temporarily sojourning in Paris, by her aunt's desire chose and sent down to Bayonne two very dainty ball-dresses; not at all alike, but each suiting perfectly each intended wearer. Conny, in azure clouds sprinkled with silver, was more fairy-like than ever, while Honor looked her very best in a more |