CHAPTER IX. THE BALL

itwhenIaskit.” “Well,nowgetalong,”repliedMissMurray“anddo,dearMatilda,trytobealittlemorelady-like.MissGrey,Iwishyouwouldtellhernottousesuchshockingwordsshewillcallherhorseamare:itissoinconceivablyshocking!andthensheusessuchdreadfulexpressionsindescribingit:shemusthavelearneditfromthegrooms.Itnearlyputsmeintofitswhenshebegins.” “Ilearneditfrompapa,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.Brownsaidshewassurenogentlemancouldseteyesonmewithoutfallinginlovethatminuteands