Buckhurst smiled, went on with some commonplace raillery about cruelty,
and took his leave, fancying that Caroline could not be in earnest in
her threat, as he called it.--As his disobedience would have the excuse
of _love_, he thought he might venture to transgress the letter of the
promise.

When the time came, he went to the ball, almost certain that Caroline would
break her resolution, as he knew that she had never yet been at a public
assembly, and it was natural that one so sure of being admired would be
anxious to be seen. His surprise and disappointment were great when no
Caroline appeared.

He asked Rosamond if her sister was not well?

"Perfectly well."

"Then why is not she here?"

"Don't you recollect her telling you that she would not come?"

"Yes: but I did not think she was in earnest."

"How little you know of Caroline," replied Rosamond, "if you imagine that
either in trifles, or in matters of consequence, _she_ would say one thing
and do another."

"I feel," said Buckhurst, colouring, "what that emphasis on _she_ means.
But I did not think you would have reproached me so severely. _I thought_
my cousin Rosamond was my friend."