I04 The Harkaway Hunt Ball. 



virgin (or ''capering elder," as Dolly Lightfoot calls 

 her), the Honourable Miss Caradoc, who is sitting next to 

 her, whose withered old cheeks are painted and powdered 

 like those of a clown in a pantomime, and who at the present 

 moment is extremely put out because no one has been 

 gallant enough to take her down to supper, cordially 

 agrees, and adds a few especially spiteful remarks on 

 her own account, having reference to the curly head 

 and appearance generally of the merry Lady Thomasina. 

 In another minute though — and we are really delighted 

 to record it, as we are all good deeds — the hungry old 

 lady's face brightens up, for who should suddenly present 

 himself but the ever-popular Tom Chirpington, who, if the 

 truth must be told, has just been sent across from the 

 opposite side of the room by his ever-thoughtful wife. 

 ''What!" exclaims he in apparent horror, "not been 

 down to supper yet, my dear Miss Caradoc? Don't tell 

 me that ! please don't ! What have all the men — including 

 myself — been about ? Take my arm this moment, and 

 come along." And it is an odd thing, but when the 

 gallant Tom leads the now-satisfied spinster back to her 

 old position against the wall, she seems quite a different 

 person altogether ; her old eyes sparkle, she smiles 

 benignantly round ; and, adjusting her pince-nez, she 

 declares that, in her opinion, dear little Lady Thomasina, 

 who at that moment has just whirled by in the arms of 

 young Courtly of the Blues, is quite the prettiest person 

 in the room. After that, who will doubt the efficacy of the 

 glorious vintage of Champagne ? 



It is now getting latish, and some of the Flowers of the 

 Hunt, such as dear old Mr. Grimboy, as Mrs. Chirpington 

 calls him, have had about enough of it. Pretty little Miss 



