to the flashing waves of the crowd, which moved to and fro like foaming billows, in the light of the brilliant chandeliers. Beatrice felt an indefinable and vague fear take possession of her heart. At the same moment, Master Willie came pushing and elbowing through the crowd.
"Cousin Clare is sick!" he said; " you 'd better go and see her, brother Champ. She liked to fainted just now!"
Beatrice understood all.
"Oh, sir! let me go!" she cried, "go out with me! I shall die here!—oh, I cannot—that dance nearly killed me—and now!—Oh, sir, have pity, give me your arm!"
And rising with a hurried movement, she placed her hand on Mr. Effingham's arm. That gentleman smiled bitterly.
"Yes," he said, "this is the tragedy after the comedy! I understand this fainting."
"Oh, sir, have pity—I must go!" cried Beatrice, "I will go alone!"
Mr. Effingham held her back and hesitated. At last he said,
"Well, madam—as you please—I have had a pleasant minuet—I will go."
And with the same cold, defiant ease, he led the young girl across the room and issued forth into the open air.
[When Effingham is subsequently rejected most positively by Beatrice Hallam, he becomes desperate and tries to kidnap her. While he is carrying her away in a sailboat down the James River, Charles Waters rescues her, and she eventually becomes his wife.[1]]
- ↑ Since Book II of "The Virginia Comedians" carries on virtually an independent story, it has not been deemed necessary to extend the summary to include these further incidents.
