but the incident was new to Alfred, and discomposed him; and, besides, he
had nosed a rival in Sampson's prescription. So now he thought to
himself, "that little ensign is 'his puppy.'"

To get rid of Mrs. Dodd he offered to conduct her to a seat. She thanked
him; she would rather stand where she could see her daughter dance: on
this he took her to the embrasure of a window opposite where Julia and
her partner stood, and they entered a circle of spectators. The band
struck up, and the solemn skating began.

"Who is this lovely creature in white?" asked a middle-aged solicitor.
"In white? I did not see any beauty in white," replied his daughter. "Why
there, before your eyes," said the gentleman, loudly.

"What, that girl dancing with the little captain? I don't see much beauty
in her. _And_ what a rubbishing dress."

"It never cost a pound, making and all," suggested another Barkingtonian
nymph.

"But what splendid pearls!" said a third: "can they be real?"

"Real! what an idea!" ejaculated a fourth: "who puts on real pearls as
big as peas with muslin at twenty pence the yard?"

"Weasels!" muttered Alfred, and quivered all over: and he felt to Mrs.
Dodd so like a savage going to spring, that she laid her hand upon his
wrist, and said gently, but with authority, "Be calm, sir! and oblige me
by not noticing these people."