CHAPTER V.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 212, 2 August 1878, Page 7

CHAPTER V.

He did follow her, and, convinced that she would be engaged ten deep in five minutes, hustled up to the master of the ceremonies and begged an introduction. The great banker's son was attended to at once. Julia saw them coming, as her sex can see, . without looking. Her eyes were on fire, aud a delicious blush on her cheeks, when the M.C. introduced Mr Alfred Hardie with due pomp. He asked her to dance. 'I am engaged for this dance, sir/ she said softly. , . '• 1 The next V asked Hardie, 1 timidly. ' 1 With pleasure.' j But when they had got. so far they.

wero both seized with bashful silence; and, just as Alfred was going to try and break it, Cornet Bosanquet, aged 18, height 5 feet, 4 inches, strutted up with clanking heel, and, glancing haughtily up at him, carried Julia off, like a steam tug towing away some fair schooner. To these little thorns society treats all anxious lovers, 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 oould 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 baud struck up, and the solemn skating began. ' Who is that lovely creature in white V asked a middle-aged solicitor. *In white ? Ido 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 iv 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 V 1 Real ! what an idea 1' ejaculated a fourth. ', Who puts on real pearls as big as peas with muslin at twenty pence the yard V 1 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/ Then they threw dirt on her bouquet, and .then on her shoes, while she was winding in and out before their eyes a Grace, and her soft muslin drifting and flowing like an appropriate cloud round a young goddess. ' A little starch would make it set out better. It's as limp as a towel on the line. ' I'll be sworn it was washed at home.' * Where it was made.' ' I call'it a rag, not a gown.' ' Do let us move/ whispered Alfred. *" I am very comfortable here/ whispered Mrs Dodd. 4 How can these thing's annoy my ears while I have eyes 1 Look at her : she is the bestdressed lady in the room. Her muslin is Indian, and of a quality unknown to these provincial shopkeepers ; a rajah gave it to us: her pearls' were- in v mother's and have been in every court . in Europe ; and she herself is beautiful, would be beautiful dressed like the dowdies who are criticising her. And I think, sir, she dances as well as any lady can encumbered with an Atom that does not know the figure.' All this with the utmost placidity. Then, as if to extinguish all doubt, Julia flung them a heavenly smile. She had been furtively watching them all the time, and she saw they were talking about her. The other Oxonian squeezed up to Hardie. 'Do you know the beauty % She smiled your way.' ' Ah ! ' said Hardie deliberately, ' you mean that young lady with the court pearls, in that exquisite Indian muslin, which floats so gracefully, while the other muslin girls are all crimp and stiff, like little pigs clad in crackling.' * ' Ha ! ha ! ha t Yes. Introduce me.' * I could not take such a liberty with the queen of fche ball.' Mrs Dodd smiled, but felt nervous and ill at ease. She thought to herself, ' Now here is a generous, impetuous thing.' As for tho hostile party, staggered at first by the masculine insolence of young* Hardie, it soon recovered, and, true to its sex, attacked him obliqjuely, through his white ladye. ' Who is the beauty of the ball ? ' asked one, haughtily. f I don't, know ; but not that mawkish thing in limp muslin.' ' 1 should say. Miss Hetherington is the belle/ suggested a third. 'Which is Miss Hetherington?' asked the Oxonian coolly of Alfred. *• Oh, she won't" do for us. It is that little chalk-faced girl, dressed in pink . with red roses ; the pink of vulgarity and bad taste.' At this both Oxonians laughed arrogantly, and Mrs Dodd withdrew her hand from the speaker's arm aud glided away behind the throng. Julia looked at him with marked auxiety. He re- ; turned her look, and was sore puzzled what it meant, till he found Mrs Dodd had withdrawn softly from him ; then he stood confused, regretting too lato he had not obeyed her positive request, and tried to imitate her dignified forbearance. (To be Contimhcd.) ■',