Chapter Two

The next few weeks were, to Eleanor’s mind, some of the happiest of her life, and each day was spent in strolling and shopping, dancing and taking tea. She was introduced to all Lillian’s most intimate friends, as well as many of the town’s most eligible gentlemen. On the second night of her stay with her cousins she was invited to the ball of one of Mrs Tennyson’s most particular friends Mrs Jenkins.

‘You know niece, although my dear friend Mrs Jenkins has no great personal beauty, I believe her to be one of the most elegant ladies of my acquaintance. She has quite a knack for holding balls, you know, and always we come away from an evening overflowing in splendour and agreeable young people, all most eager to dance,’ these kind of comments from Mrs Tennyson were not unusual and Eleanor spent much of that day in listening to her aunts loud raptures on the pleasantness of private balls.

When finally able to escape from this little evil by the appearance of Lillian, requesting her cousin’s aid in picking out a dress, Eleanor indulged in all her own preparations for the expected evening of pleasure. Having helped Lilly in choosing a dress of pale blue muslin with the sleeves in the latest fashion and a matching ribbon for her hair, Eleanor received the same care and was soon dressed in dove grey muslin, her dark curls tied with a velvet ribbon. On arriving downstairs the two girls were praised on their beauty, as may be expected from their own family, and they bore it sensibly, knowing the true test lay in pleasing the eye of their non-relations. Tom Tennyson presented an arm to each his fair cousin and sister and escorted them to the Chaise which would carry the girls and Mrs Tennyson, while he and his father took the curricle, the ball being on quite the other side of town.

They arrived and entered with all the excitement which a respectable and highly thought of family must produce and were welcomed by their affluent host with smiles of great delight at finally meeting the cousin so much anticipated. Mrs Jenkins was a large and cheerful woman and she took to her new guest with an enthusiasm which might well have scared the young Miss Grayson as easily as comforted her. Eleanor however was of a disposition to be readily pleased by almost anyone and she enjoyed the gusto of such a woman, taking pleasure in the use it must serve of making her known to everyone in the room - for there was nothing Mrs Jenkins delighted in more than making introductions, and to her the presence of a lady who must be unknown to everyone was as close to a blessing as she found herself likely to come. Thus was Eleanor introduced to every person in the room worth knowing, and several, as the hospitable lady herself whispered, not at all worth knowing!

It was a pleasant evening to Eleanor’s notions and yet more so when she was extracted from her new dear friends side by a request from one Mr Harrington of the honour of dancing with her. She assented with a courteous smile, excusing herself most civilly from Mrs Jenkins, who encouraged her most agreeably to dance and make merry.

‘I thank you, kind lady, for allowing me to steal away your pretty friend that I might satisfy my own wish for dancing.’

‘Oh! you are welcome sir, I ask only that you allow the other young gentlemen their fair chances. I would not have discontent among my guests for anything.’

He in turn gave a nod of the utmost gravity and led his fair partner to stand among the other already assembled couples.