CHAPTER IX. THE BALL

itfrompapa,youass!andhisjollyfriends,”saidtheyounglady,vigorouslycrackingahunting-whip,whichshehabituallycarriedinherhand.“I’masgoodjudgeofhorsefleshasthebestof’m.” “Well,nowgetalong,youshockinggirl!Ireallyshalltakeafitifyougooninsuchaway.Andnow,MissGrey,attendtomeI’mgoingtotellyouabouttheball.Youmustbedyingtohearaboutit,Iknow.Oh,suchaball!Youneversaworheard,orread,ordreamtofanythinglikeitinallyourlife.Thedecorations,theentertainment,thesupper,themusicwereindescribable!andthentheguests!Thereweretwonoblemen,threebaronets,andfivetitledladies,andotherladiesandgentlemeninnumerable.Theladies,ofcourse,wereofnoconsequencetome,excepttoputmeinagoodhumourwithmyself,byshowinghowuglyandawkwardmostofthemwereandthebest,mammatoldme,—themosttranscendentbeautiesamongthem,werenothingtome.Asforme,MissGrey—I’msosorryyoudidn’tseeme!Iwascharming—wasn’tI,Matilda?” “Middling.” “No,butIreallywas—atleastsomammasaid—andBrownandWilliamson.BrownsaidshewassurenogentlemancouldseteyesonmewithoutfallinginlovethatminuteandsoImaybeallowedtobealittlevain.Iknowyouthinkmeashocking,conceited,frivolousgirlbutthen,youknow,Idon’tattributeitalltomypersonalattractions:Igivesomepraisetothehairdresser,andsometomyexquisitelylovelydress—youmustseeitto-morrow—whitegauzeoverpinksatin—andsosweetlymade!andanecklaceandbraceletofbeautiful,largepearls!” “Ihavenodoubtyoulookedverycharming:butshouldthatdelightyousoverymuch?” “Oh,no!—notthatalone:but,then,IwassomuchadmiredandImadesomanyconquestsinthatonenight—you’dbeastonishedtohear—” “Butwhatgoodwilltheydoyou?” “Whatgood!Thinkofanywomanaskingthat!” “Well,Ishouldthinkoneconquestwouldbeenoughandtoomuch,unlessthesubjugationweremutual.”