BUT--again--flushing prettily--was he certain that the expedition

would not bore him? Doubtless he had had some other engagement in

prospect for the evening, before he stumbled over her. He ought to

know her well enough not to disguise his real wishes by gallant

phrases.

"I have never been otherwise than sincere with you," Frederic said,

honestly; "I had thought of going to the levee alone, as a possible

method of whiling away an idle evening. If you will allow me to

accompany you thither, I shall be gratified--shall derive actual

pleasure from the motley scene. It will not be the only time you and

I have studied varieties of physiognomy and character in a mixed

assembly. Do you recollect the hops at the Rockbridge Alum Springs?"

"I do," replied Rosa, laconically and very soberly.

He thought she suppressed a sigh in saying it. She was a

warm-hearted little creature with all her vagaries, and he was less

inclined to reject her unobtrusive sympathy than if a more sedate or

prudent person had proffered it.

It was certain he could not have selected a more entertaining

associate for that evening. She amused him in spite of the painful

recollections revived by their intercourse. She did not pass

unobserved in the dense crowd that packed the lower floor of the

White House. Her face, all glee and sparkle, the varied music of her

soft Southern tongue, her becoming attire--were, in turn, the

subject of eulogistic comment among the most distinguished

connoisseurs present. It was not probable that these should all be

unheard by her cavalier, or that he should listen to them with

profound indifference.

He was astonished, therefore, when she protested that she had had

"enough of it," and proposed that they should extricate themselves

from the press and go home. It was contrary to the commonly received

tenets of his sex respecting the insatiable nature of feminine

vanity, that she should weary so soon of adulation which would have

rendered a light head dizzy. Mrs. Mason was not ready to leave the

halls of mirth. She had met scores of old friends, and was having a

"nice, sociable time" in a corner, while Mrs. Cunningham had "not

begun to enjoy herself, looking at the queer people and the superb

dresses."

Of course, they had no objection to their wilful relative doing as

she liked, but did not conceal their amazement at her bad taste.

"Take the carriage, dear! You'll find it around out there

somewhere," drawled the easy-tempered aunt. "And let Thomas come

back for us. He will be in time an hour from this."




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