it meant, till he found Mrs. Dodd had withdrawn softly from him; then he
stood confused, regretting too late he had not obeyed her positive
request, and tried to imitate her dignified forbearance.

The quadrille ended. He instantly stepped forward, and bowing politely to
the cornet, said authoritatively, "Mrs. Dodd sends me to conduct you to
her. With your permission, sir." His arm was offered and taken before the
little warrior knew where he was.

He had her on his arm, soft, light, and fragrant as zephyr, and her cool
breath wooing his neck; oh, the thrill of that moment! but her first word
was to ask him, with considerable anxiety, "Why did mamma leave you?"

"Miss Dodd, I am the most unhappy of men."

"No doubt! no doubt!" said she, a little crossly. She added with one of
her gushes of naivete, "and I shall be unhappy too if you go and
displease mamma."

"What could I do? A gang of snobbesses were detracting from--somebody. To
speak plainly, they were running down the loveliest of her sex. Your
mamma told me to keep quiet. And so I did till I got a fair chance, and
then I gave it them in their teeth." He ground his own, and added, "I
think I was very good not to kick them."

.Julia coloured with pleasure, and proceeded to turn it off. "Oh! most
forbearing and considerate," said she. "Ah! by the way, I think I did
hear some ladies express a misgiving as to the pecuniary value of my
costume; ha! ha! Oh--you--foolish!--Fancy noticing that! Why it is in
little sneers that the approval of the ladies shows itself at a ball, and