“For the first two dances especially”
Lily related to Daisy the next day what had passed between Mr. Snape and herself. Daisy listened with astonishment and concern; she knew not how to believe that Mr. Potter could be so unworthy of Mr. Black’s regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Snape. The possibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing remained therefore to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained.
‘They have both,’ said she, ‘been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side.’
‘Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Daisy, what have you got to say on behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business? Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody.’
‘Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lily, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Potter, to be treating his father’s favourite in such a manner, one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No wizard of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him? Oh! no.’
‘I can much more easily believe Mr. Black’s being imposed on, than that Mr. Snape should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Potter contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks.’
‘It is difficult indeed–it is distressing. One does not know what to think.’
‘I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think.’
But Daisy could think with certainty on only one point–that Mr. Black, if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair became public.
The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this conversation passed, by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had been speaking; Mr. Black and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherthorn, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Evans as much as possible, saying not much to Lily, and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Evans’s civilities.
The prospect of the Netherthorn ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family. Mrs. Evans chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Black himself, instead of a ceremonious card. Daisy pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of her brother; and Lily thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Snape, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Potter’s look and behavior. The happiness anticipated by Violet and Heather depended less on any single event, or any particular person, for though they each, like Lily, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Snape, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. And even Petunia could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it.
‘While I can have my mornings to myself,’ said she, ‘it is enough–I think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for everybody.’
Lily’s spirits were so high on this occasion, that though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Dursley, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Black’s invitation, and if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening’s amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the Archbishop, or Lady Astoria of Gaunt, by venturing to dance.
‘I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you,’ said he, ‘that a ball of this kind, given by a young wizard of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Lily, for the two first dances especially, a preference which I trust my cousin Daisy will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her.’
Lily felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Mr. Snape for those very dances; and to have Mr. Dursley instead! her liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help for it, however. Mr. Snape’s happiness and her own were perforce delayed a little longer, and Mr. Dursley’s proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of Hallowford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Ravenspire, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to her. Lily, however, did not choose to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Dursley might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.
If there had not been a Netherthorn ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Evans would have been in a very pitiable state at this time, for from the day of the invitation, to the day of the ball, there was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Myrthvale once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after–the very shoe-roses for Netherthorn were got by proxy. Even Lily might have found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Snape; and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday endurable to Violet and Heather.