Chronicles of Dustypore

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fe a lovely ball-dress, bright, cloudlike, ambrosial-to be suddenly elevated to a pinnacle to receive the homage of mankind-to exercise a pleasant little capricious tyranny in the selection of partners-to be seized upon by one anxious adorer after another, all striving to please, each with a little flattering tale of his own-to read in a hundred eyes that one is very pre

with another school-girl, under the superintendence of Madame Millville, to the accompaniment of her husband's violin: but to be taken possession of by a being like Sutton-to have to write his name down for two valses and a set of Lancers-to know that in five minutes one will be whirling about under his guidance-the idea was delightful, but not without a touch of awe! Sutton, however, quieted these alarms by dancing in a rather ponderous and old-fashioned manner, and finally tearing her dress with his s

x's dancing, Maud speedily acknowledged to herself, bore about the same relation to Sutton's that her Arab pony's canter did to the imposing movements of the latter gentleman's first charger.

r ever-a thing to dream of, is it not? Some ladies, you know, Miss Vernon, dance in epic poems, some in the sternest prose-Carlyle, for instance-some in sweet-fl

many battles she had had in former days with that gentleman: 'a horrid little wizened F

s I do-sweet points where all the concentrated poetry of your being ga

at so unexpected a request, gathering her feet

ntment. 'Is not that unkind? Suppose it was the fashion to co

e able to adore them either; as it is, you se

all the evening. They are lo

y dancing a poem, and my fingers sprites! How very poetical! And

ves-about the weather and the last appointment and the freshest bit of stale gossip;

e, for her companion's romantic extravagance se

ike me; partly it is for my good looks, of course, and partly for my

n to think her companion was in great need o

ows when one is good-looking, does one not? and why pretend to be a simplet

aid Maud, blushing scarlet, and conscious of

my teeth and snarl; and when I lose my heart I don't suffer in silence, but inform the fair purloiner of that valuable organ of the theft without hesitation. That is honest, at any r

te of herself; 'and so I think you now, and very conceited i

t we can go on with our talk. How nice i

ds,' said Maud, 'and I have not ev

great fancy to me the first morning I came to call on yo

h, for Desv?ux's shot was, unfortunately, near the mar

ourselves on this nice ottoman, and I will show you some of our celebrities. Look at that handsome couple talking so mysteriously on the sofa: that is General Beau and Mrs. Vereker, and they are talking about nothing more mysterious than the weather; but it is the General's fancy to look mysterious. Do you see how he is shrugging his shoulders? Well, to th

'How lovely she is! suc

not being a man, but they go through and through me. She always has a numerous following, especially of boys, a

with those eyes and such

d charm upon her, made this single omission, much, no doubt, to the lady's own peace of mind.

' said Maud, 'and I shall get my c

cell hung round with votive offerings from former victims. She lives on the gifts of worshippers, and will accept everything, from a sealskin jac

sweetest of smiles, scolded Desv?ux with the prettiest little pout for not having been to see her for an age; and, if she felt jealous, was determined, at any rate, not to show it. She observed, however, with the eye of a connoisseur, how Maud's hair was done, and took a

roached maturity, had found herself the belle of a Station, and presently a bride. Then circumstances separated her frequently from her husband, and she learnt to bear separation heroically. The sweet incense of flattery was for ever rising about her, and she learnt to love it better every day. Any number of men were for ever ready to throw themselves at her feet and proclaim her adorable, and she came to feel it right that they should do so. She found that she could

tion, partly because he considered it the proper thing to be seen on confidential terms with the ha

ve a quondam rival in possession of the field, and to have a decent excus