Chapter XIX

CUNIGUNDA WONDERS WHETHER I AM AT THE BALL, IN SPITE OF HER MAID’S CLEVER CONTRIVANCE.

Soon afterwards the guests began to arrive, most of whom were in fancy dresses, which they preferred to show during the first part of the evening, so they left the masks and dominoes in the room prepared for that purpose. But some few wished to remain unknown, and the speculation about who these disguised people were afforded much amusement.

When the tapestry-room was nearly full, the Countess took the Duchess of Dromoland, Prince L----, and a few other grandees, to see the ball-room, as she herself wished to ascertain whether her orders had been fully carried out.

“What a scene of enchantment!” they all exclaimed.

The walls were almost covered with flowers, in graceful devices and shapes, intermingled with light in such a subtle manner, that it was almost impossible to discover how or where the candles or lamps were hid. Besides these decorated walls, festoons of flowers were suspended in every variety of pattern from the roof, containing lights, which were thus shaded from the eyes, while they helped to illuminate the scene.

As I said before, the highly-polished floor was composed of the finest marqueterie work; and gorgeous flowers and fruits ran in borders round medallions of still more elaborate devices.

The other guests soon began to follow; and then the band, which was stationed in a gallery opposite the old carved one (which had remained untouched) struck up a lively waltz.

It was the kind of gorgeous scene Cunigunda loved; and yet the brilliant flowery light reminded her of the ball she had also devised in the caves of Hohenstein. But Prince L----, who opened the ball with her, was a first-rate waltzer, as well as a devoted admirer, and his pleasant talk, and the admiration she saw depicted on all the faces as she flew along, soon restored her spirits.

Carlo’s turn came next, and he asked her, with a somewhat anxious look, which she saw he endeavoured to conceal, whether it was true, as the Duchess had said at dinner, that Miss Vivian had been sent for.

“I suppose so,” she said, with some embarrassment.

“And do you think she knows that I am here?”

“I cannot tell. Not unlikely the Duchess told her in her note, I suppose.”

“If I thought she was coming,” said Carlo, “I would put on my mask, and not appear. I heard that she could not be here till late, as she will have to dress.”

“Do, do,” she whispered--“that would be a very good plan.”

As soon as the dance was over, he went away, after whispering to her that he was to have the first waltz after supper as Domino. To this she nodded an assent.

The Count had not yet entered the ball-room, for he disapproved so strongly of the old chapel being thus desecrated, that he wished to avoid going there. But after supper he could scarcely refuse the Duchess of Dromoland, who asked him to take her there, and who remarked that she thought he had not entered the ball-room all that evening.

“And how very strange it is that Miss Vivian has not arrived, when I sent the carriage on purpose for her. She had sent to inquire whether the carriage had returned, and the servant had brought no message.

“Allow me to go and inquire?” continued the Count, who was willing to seize this excuse for not entering the ball-room.

“Not yet. Please get me to my place at the farther end of the ball-room, for I want you to see what a really magic scene of enchantment it is--quite; and I really think that Miss Vivian has come after all. Look at that domino--it is just like her graceful movement--waltzing with the very tall man; and I daresay that quaint old lady in the corner is her chaperon.”

The Countess had not seen Carlo since he went to put on his mask and domino, although she had watched several men of about his height, and felt sure she should know his walk and air even through that complete disguise.

But she had seen a lady in a domino and mask who she fancied was Miss Vivian, and she approached her to try if she could recognise the voice. The longer she watched this tall domino the more convinced she became that it was Miss Vivian, and the more anxious she became to know what had become of Carlo. There was a very tall man who had spoken to this girl several times, and whose presence seemed to agitate her; but he was much taller than Carlo, and had a slovenly, ungraceful walk, most unlike his graceful movements.

Lady Selina Bugginfield, too, was struck with the likeness to Miss Vivian’s figure, and came up to tell her very triumphantly that she thought the reigning beauty of last season had really arrived, and would unmask after supper.

But the supper was now over, and the Countess had lost sight of her and the tall man. Nor had Carlo come to claim his promised waltz, and she had refused no end of partners--princes and dukes, and the best waltzers in the room--all for a man who had now deserted her. She began to be alarmed as the idea crossed her mind that the young girl might really have been there all the evening, and that the tall, awkward mask was really Carlo, and now both had disappeared. In vain she looked in all directions--neither of these dominoes was to be seen anywhere.

The waltz began again, and the numerous couples thronged to take their places, but still no Carlo appeared.

“What! not going to dance this lovely valse?” said Lady Selina, who was leaning on Prince E---- W----’s arm, as they passed near, and they took their places to begin the waltz. Still no Carlo appeared. What a position for the greatest beauty in the world to be placed in! Could he really have forgotten her?--had the fascination of that rival beauty prevailed?

The position was most humiliating, and Cunigunda suddenly resolved to go and assume a mask and domino, and lose herself among the crowd, hoping, by that disguise, to ascertain the truth.

“It was foolish of me not to have done this before,” she thought, “for of course they would shun my presence when they could see where I was.”

So she went and disguised herself completely, and then searched in all the other apartments, as well as the ball-room, for the missing pair; for by this time she had fully convinced herself that the strange domino was Miss Vivian, and the tall gentleman was really Carlo.

During her search I will proceed to relate with what success Cattarina planned to stop the summons sent by the Duchess of Dromoland to Aunt Jane’s house.