thought that by doing so, the child finding both his friends together
must insist upon being with them, and the second set of quadrilles was
danced by poor Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to
her, for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if they
opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke somewhat
sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and if they allowed him
to dance this time, he must promise to sit still afterwards, and not be
troublesome again. Reuben knew that he must obey his brother, so when
that dance was finished he went and sat himself down, as directed,
though his young heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about
with the other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do
not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at
liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this
evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of
all.

After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which
game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it,
and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit,
though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less
indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable.

It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness
began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it
so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by
it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and
thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck.
Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the
handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him
in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were