AND A BELLE. 119 



gave a lui ! I dare all to the lists, though upon my 

 life, I have not ridden at the ring, since the last tour- 

 nament I witnessed at the White Sulphur Springs, 

 where I, in the fifteenth year of my precocity, bore 

 away the ring against all comers, all for the love of 

 Sukey Smithson, whom I crowned queen of love and 

 beauty, two days before she eloped with a long, slab- 

 sided Vermont midshipman as green as the mountains 

 that he came from, with a laugh like a horse's neigh, 

 and a voice like an asthmatic bag-pipe. After that 

 my lacerated heart became hard as the nether mill- 

 stone, and I defy — " 



"■ Don't be rash, don't be rash. And what is more 

 to the purpose, don't be late for dinner ; to-day it is 

 sharp score. This lane takes me to my stables, that 

 to yours. Au 7'evoir T' 



" Au revoir. JSe is a gentleman, at least," said 

 Fairfax to his friend, as they turned off homeward. 



"One often thousand, Fairfax," said the count, 

 " and what is more to your purpose, he thinks you one. 

 I never saw or heard of his concerning himself so far 

 as to advise any foreigner before, though I have 

 seen him made known to hundreds, myself among the 

 number." 



" Advice from him, at all events, is a compliment, 

 and in this case worth having, and what is more 

 taking. And now for some advice from you — since I 

 have letters to write which will keep me busy 'till din- 

 ner time — what is the dress den'giieu?', for a hunt-ball, 

 a thing unknown to us Caffrarians ? Is there a cos- 

 tume?" 



" Yes ! for the stewards, and members proper of the 

 club — pinks with white waistcoats, continuations, and 

 silk stockings. For nous autres^l'nm evening dresses, 

 selon moi the plainer the better, but you must take 

 your choice between the simple and the sublime, 



