A BALL ROOM, AND A BELLE. 131 



especially with a lady in the case, though I dare say 

 you have given plenty of them cause to blush, and to 

 be ashamed, too. Come, I always have my own way 

 — and I am resolved for once that you shall know 

 Mary Merton." 



" Mary Merton ! what a pretty name !" 



*' So pretty that I don't believe she'd care to change 

 it even for Fairfax, though you were to ask her, in the 

 same voice that you asked me to dance with, half an. 

 hour since. What's your Christian name ?" 



*' Heavens ! why ? Percy, at your pleasure." 



" Miss Mary Merton — Mrs. Percy Fairfax. I don't 

 know which is prettiest. Come, will you obey me ?" 



" I'd rather not, indeed. That is, not just noiv. 

 I'm sure she would rather not. It will only distress 

 her. Did not you see how she blushed just now ?" 



" I'd rather just now. I'm sure she would much 

 rather dance with you, for you dance — there ! don't 

 look up for a compliment — pretty well, for an Ameri- 

 can. It will not distress her at all. It never does 

 distress girls to make them blush. Besides, she only 

 blushed because she thought you were flirting and 

 making soft eyes at me, when all your eyes ought to 

 have been on her, and her li»ttle curtsy." 



" You would make me out something very — " 



" There ! there ! You need not say that. Not 

 half so much a something, as you think of yourself. 

 Show me an American, who does not think more of 

 himself than any one else does in the wide world, and 

 I'll give you — " 



"No, will you?" 



" Yes — credit for modesty. There — now stay just 

 where you are, and talk to prosy old Lord Glenlivat, 

 but not a glance or a soft word to any woman on your 

 life, 'till I come back to you." 



And with a playful gesture of command, she sailed 

 across the room and placed herself beside Mary Mer- 



