impulse----"

"What do you mean, sir?" said Julia, looking him full in the face, like
an offended lion, while, with true feminine and Julian inconsistency her
bosom fluttered like a dove. "I never exchanged one word with you in my
life before to-day; and I never shall again if you pretend the contrary."

Alfred stood stupified, and looked at her in piteous amazement.

"I value your acquaintance highly, Mr. Hardie, now I have made it, as
acquaintances are made; but please to observe, I never saw you
before--scarcely; not even in church."

"As you please," said he, recovering his wits in part. "What you say I'll
swear to."

"Then I say, never remind a lady of what you ought to wish her to
forget."

"I was a fool, and you are an angel of tact and goodness."

"Oh, now I am sure it is time to join mamma," said she in the driest,
drollest way. _"Valsons._"

They waltzed down to Mrs. Dodd, exchanging hearts at every turn, and they
took a good many in the space of a round table, for in truth both were
equally loth to part.


At two o'clock Mrs. Dodd resumed common-place views of a daughter's