378 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
to Madame Hghelghghagllaghem; she could not under¬ 
stand English; nor I speak Norse. My brain reeled with 
anxiety to find some solution of the difficulty, or some 
excuse for rushing from her presence. What if I were 
taken with a sudden bleeding at the nose, or had an 
apoplectic fit on the spot ? Either case would necessitate 
my being carried decently out, and consigned to oblivion, 
which would have been a comfort under the circum¬ 
stances. There was nothing for it but the courage of 
despair; so, casting reflection to the winds, and my arm 
round her waist, I suddenly whisked her off, and dashed 
madly down the room, “ a deux temps” At the first 
perception that something unusual was going on, she 
gave such an eldritch scream, that the whole society 
suddenly came to a stand-still. I thought it best to 
assume an aspect of innocent composure and conscious 
rectitude; which had its effect, for though the lady 
began with a certain degree of hysterical animation 
to describe her wrongs, she finished with a hearty 
laugh, in which the company cordially joined, and I 
delicately chimed in. For the rest of the dance she 
seemed to resign herself to her fate, and floated 
through space, under my guidance, with all the 
