first temptation--"

"Oh! my dear Mr. Percy," said Buckhurst, endeavouring to laugh away the
displeasure, or rather the disappointment which he saw in Mr. Percy's
countenance, "a few days can make no difference."

"Only the difference of a term," said Mr. Percy; "and the difference
between promising and performing. You thought me unjust yesterday, when
I told you that I feared you would prefer present amusement to future
happiness."

"Amusement!" exclaimed Buckhurst, turning suddenly towards Caroline; "do
you imagine _that_ is my object?" Then approaching her, he said in a low
voice, "It is a natural mistake for you to make, Miss Caroline Percy--for
you--who know nothing of love. Amusement! It is not amusement that detains
me--can you think I would stay for a ball, unless I expected to meet you
there?"

"Then I will not go," said Caroline: "it would be coquetry to meet you
there, when, as I thought, I had distinctly explained to you yesterday--"

"Oh! don't repeat that," interrupted Buckhurst: "a lady is never bound to
remember what she said yesterday--especially if it were a cruel sentence; I
hope hereafter you will change your mind--let me live upon hope."

"I will never give any false hopes," said Caroline; "and since I cannot add
to your happiness, I will take care not to diminish it. I will not be the
cause of your breaking your promise to my father: I will not be the means
of tempting you to lower yourself in his opinion--I will not go to this
ball."