The representatives of the Resistance soon contacted those of the First Order through a holo-call. The call was soon returned in due form. Officer Bennet's pleasing eloquence and spirit grew on the respect of General Hux and Captain Phasma, in spite of themselves; and though the protocol droid that always accompanied the Resistance party was found to be intolerable, and the two Force-sensitive sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with them was expressed towards Rey and Finn. By Finn, this attention was received with a kind of triumphant pleasure, but Rey could see cold condescension in their treatment of everybody, hardly excepting even herself and her friend, and could not respect them even as enemies; though their new respect of Finn, such as it was, had a value as arising in all probability from the influence of her double-agent friend's admiration. It was generally evident, even before he had left on his mission, and now whenever they were able to meet, that he did admire him and to her it was equally evident that Finn was yielding to the preference which he had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the galaxy in general, since Finn united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which she supposed had something to do with Finn's growing up in a military order and living with the necessity to hide one's person feelings, and which would guard him from the suspicions of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Cass, who, though unaware of the deeper connection between Finn and the charming captain, could perceive Finn's regard nonetheless.

"It may perhaps by pleasant," replied Charla, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a man conceals his affection with the same skill from the object of it, he may lose the opportunity of fixing him or her; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the galaxy equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely – a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a man or woman had better show more affection than he or she feels. Dameron likes your friend undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like him, if Finn does not help him on. And since his goal is not only to capture his affection, but his loyalties, too, he cannot risk Dameron not noticing his attentions."

"Burt he does help him on, as much as his nature and the circumstances will allow. If I can perceive his regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to discover it too." Rey, of course, was speaking with the full advantage of knowing the extent of the history between her friend and the captain, and her remarks were rather for herself than for Charla.

"Remember, Rey, that he does not know Finn's disposition as you do."

Rey had to suppress a smile here, as it was quite certain that Poe Dameron understood Finn Bennet quite as well as she could do. "But if a man is partial to another man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, the other man must find it out," she said, regaining her composure.

"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of him. But, though Dameron and Finn meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and, as they always see each other in large mixed parties, and they themselves belong to two opposing organizations and are therefore to be considered enemies, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Finn should therefore make the most of every half-hour he can command of Dameron's attention. When Dameron's loyalties and affection are secure and he has joined the Resistance, there will be more leisure for falling in love as much as he chooses."

"Your plan is a good one," replied Rey, "where nothing is in question but the desire for a politically useful spouse, and if I were determined to get a powerful husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Finn's feelings; he is not acting by design. As yet, he cannot even be certain of the degree of his own regard nor," she added, lest suspicion be aroused, "of its reasonableness. He has known him only a fortnight. He talked with him a few times on Merytonia, he saw him once in a political meeting, and has since spoken with him through a conference holo-call four times, in the company of others. This is not quite enough to make him understand P- Dameron's character," she amended hurriedly. Fortunately, it appeared Charla had missed her alarming slip of the tongue.

"Not as you represent it. Had he merely spoken with him, he might only have discovered Dameron's personal manner of speaking; but you must remember that four long meetings have also been spent together – and four such periods of reasonable length together may do a great deal."

"Yes; these four meetings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like the old X-Wing models better than the new; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded." At least, nothing that had been unfolded had been so during those particular meetings, Rey thought.

"Well," said Charla, "I wish Finn success with all my heart; and if he were married to him to-morrow, I should think he had as good a chance of happiness and success as if he were to be studying Dameron's character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance; one can only choose whether they marry prudently, and gain power and influence through their marriage. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."

"You make me laugh, Charla, but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself. You would never give up your happiness or hide your scruples in order to 'marry well,' as the phrase goes."

Occupied in observing Captain Dameron's attentions to her friend, Rey was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming more and more an object of great interest in the eyes of his new companion. Mr. Ren had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty, and every day the scar on his own face was a reminder to be wary of her; he had prevented himself from approaching her, even looking at her at the assembly; and at every meeting when they were each of them present, he looked at her only, he told himself, to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his allies that she hardly had a good feature in her face, and that there certainly was no reason for him to continue his old, foolish pursuit of her, than he began to find her face was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Whereas before he had been able to convince himself that she had refused his offer of being her teacher due to emotional naïveté and a misguided attachment to General Han Solo, he was forced to acknowledge that she was exceptionally clever and perceptive; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the political world, he was caught by their quiet playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who had committed terrible acts of violence, and who had mistakenly believed that she could be induced to join him.

Every day, his wish to know more of her increased, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, he attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was on Merytonia, where the parties of the Resistance and First Order were once again assembled.

"What does Mr. Ren mean," said she to Charla, "by listening to my conversation with Admiral Ackbar?"

"That is a question which Mr. Ren only can answer."

"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him." She could hardly help smiling as she said so; if the events of that day several months ago had not been sufficient to make her afraid of Kylo Ren, it was hardly likely that his odd attention to her conversation would be.

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Cass defied her friend to mention such a subject to him; which immediately provoking Rey to do it, she turned to him, her heart pounding very rapidly, and said:

"Did you not think, Mr. Ren, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Admiral Ackbar to give us a ball on Merytonia?" She detested the necessity of speaking to him, but it was vital that Charla not know of their past, lest more information on those events, and the role Captain Dameron had played in them, somehow be revealed.

"With great energy; but it is nearly always a subject which makes a lady energetic." His mask prevented any perception of his face, and his electronically-altered voice gave away little emotion.

Rey coloured. "You are severe on us."

"It will be her turn soon to be teased," said Miss Cass. "I am going to open the instrument, Rey, and you know what follows." Since her time in the Resistance, Rey had become very adept at the piano, an old, very popular instrument from Naboo, and Charla was always eager to hear her play.

"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! – always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Cass's persevering, however, she added, "Very well, if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Ren, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody on Jakku is familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your portion'; and I shall keep mine to swell my song."

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by Miss Lydia Cass, who, in consequence of possessing an abundance of natural talent, was always impatient for display.

Lydia had neither genius nor taste; and though her talent had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Rey, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Lydia, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Corellian and Alderaanian airs, at the request of some of the younger members of the Senate, who then eagerly began to dance at one end of the hall.

Mr. Ren stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his thoughts, and his particular resentment at the choice of that specific music, to perceive that Lord William Cass was his neighbour, till Lord Cass thus began:

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Ren! There is nothing like dancing after all, when the all the exhausting efforts of politics may be put away. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the galaxy. Every Ewok, every slave on Tatooine can dance."

Lord Cass only smiled. "Your companion performs delightfully," he continued after a pause, on seeing Dameron join the group; "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Ren."

"Certainly not," Ren replied flatly. Not once in perhaps twenty years had he been prevailed upon to dance; it was an activity he loathed. Indeed, he rather wondered at Dameron joining in the foolish merriment so happily.

"Do you never dance, sir?" Lord Cass cried.

"Never, sir."

"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the order of fine society?"

"It is not a compliment I would freely pay to any society."

"Indeed!"

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Rey at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her:

"My dear Miss Kenobi, why are you not dancing? Mr. Ren, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Ren who, extremely surprised, could not begin to think what he should do, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Lord Cass:

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

Mr. Ren, with grave propriety, though in a voice he felt to be cold enough that she would refuse him, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. Rey was determined; nor did Lord Cass at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Kenobi. Your grace lends itself to both dancing and fighting with a lightsaber equally well, I am sure. It would be cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you dance; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, and, to be sure, is rather at odds with us politically, I am sure he can have no objection.

"Mr. Ren is all politeness," said Rey, doing her best to smile at Lord Cass. She was not sure of the success of her efforts.

"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Kenobi, we cannot wonder at his complaisance – for who would object to such a partner? Come, let us leave our words of war behind, and enjoy everything that high society may offer, hm?"

Rey looked archly, and before her anger could overpower her civility, she turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by General Hux:

"I can guess the subject of your reverie, Ren."

"I should imagine not."

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner – in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise – the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all these weak, insignificant people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow." In the face of a pretty, extremely powerful, intelligent, and intriguing woman, he thought.

General Hux immediately fixed his eyes on Ren's face, though he could not tell its expression due to the mask, and desired he would tell him what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Ren replied with great intrepidity:

"Miss Rey Kenobi."

"Miss Rey Kenobi!" repeated General Hux. "I am all astonishment. Is that unimportant scavenger girl still such a favourite of yours? – and pray, when am I to wish you joy?" Hux had to try very hard to keep the venom out of his voice.

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. The imagination of a man such as yourself is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."

"Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will be having a charming protocol droid, indeed; and, of course, he will always be living with you."

Ren listened to him with perfect indifference while he chose to entertain himself in this manner; and as Ren's composure convinced him that all was safe, his wit flowed long.