AND A BELLE. 123 



word, like gentlemen ; that is to say as unlike as pos- 

 sible to New York dandies, or Frenchmen their mo- 

 dels, or dancing-masters, the archetypes of both — 

 their tailors and dancing masters being merged in the 

 gentlemen, not the gentlemen lost in the conscious- 

 ness and concentration of dancing-master, posturer, 

 and tailor. 



In such company as that, there is never a blush, a 

 surprise, or even an enthusiasm, much less a flutter at 

 the entrance even of royalty, except on state occa- 

 sions, and then shown only by a stir and silence. No 

 excitement, therefore, occurred as the Duke's party 

 entered, though it was composed of the very cream of 

 the men of Melton Mowbray, the favorites of the fair, 

 the flower of the peers of England. There is little 

 demonstrativeness in the English character, unless 

 when the heart of England is stirred to its core by 

 some grand emotion. 



Therefore the girls went on, just as usual, flirting 

 and chatting and laughing, with that low, soft, into- 

 nated voice, that infectious ringing laughter pecu- 

 liar to themselves, with their partners in the pauses 

 of the dance — the married belles flirted, and talked 

 more earnestly as they sat in corners with their fa- 

 vorites — the nice young men philandered, the exqui- 

 sites sauntered and simpered, the puppies impudently 

 stared and ogled, and the lady-killers made deep, low, 

 earnest love in whispers ; and no notice was taken of 

 the new comers beyond a sidelong glance shot from 

 beneath the lashes of some young beauty seeming to 

 say, I wish it were you instead of this dandy sim- 

 pleton. 



Before they had stood, however, five minutes within 

 the door»tlie set of quadrilles ended, and the dancers 

 breaking up into a promenading crowd, left the floor 

 practicable, and our group at once dispersed, each in 

 quest of his peculiar lady. 



