22 THE RETURN FROM THE BALL. CHAPTER VI. "For many a flow'ret blossoms there to bless The lily of the vale! whose virgin flower, THE Sound of carriage wheels aroused Mrs. Lockyer and Ellen from their quietude and both instinctively arose to meet Laura, who embraced her mother affectionately, saying, "How little I anticipated you and my dear sister would thus have stolen so many hours from your slumbers for me. Indeed, indeed, I am quite sorry to have been the cause of fatiguing you both so much; hours have flown as minutes, and when Mrs. De Tracy's carriage was announced, I could scarcely believe the grey morning light had already partially relieved the horizon !" "I need not, then, inquire if you have spent a A HOUSEKEEPER'S OPINION. 23 pleasant evening," said Mrs. Lockyer, "for your remarks betray the same." "It was a capital ball-three hundred and fifty persons the music charming." 66 And company still more so, I presume," said Ellen, who had hitherto been a silent listener to all. Laura blushed, and said, "I must not further intrude upon your rest, so will ring for Angelique, who will, I am sure, be very glad to retire." So saying, she wished an affectionate good night, to dream of pleasures not soon to return. "Good morning, Mrs. Bell," said Angelique, to the housekeeper, on arising the next morning after the ball, "what a lucky soul you are; I was not in bed until four this morning, and my young mistress rang her bell at seven for a cup of tea, she had not been able to sleep, from the excitement of dancing or excessive fatigue." "So I suppose," said Mrs. Bell. "Poor child! she is rather young to commence life's follies; and I really thought my mistress had more sense than to be schooled by that Mrs. De Tracy, who fancies herself the queen of society! As for me, I always have a blind eye when I see her coming; she gets none of my Sunday courtesies, though she did praise my skill in housekeeping to my face. Cant! that she is! I am sure you need not talk of fatigue. Why even to-day, what have I not before me! A large dinner to order, and everything on my own head, for a party. Amongst others we are to have Mr. Devereux. I like him well enough, Angelique; but that Major who is to be one of the guests, I am not so sure about him; he looks just like a lobster half-dressed." "And pickled after," said Angelique, laughing heartily. am ""Tis well we have no listeners, for your sake,” said Mrs. Bell, "for, between ourselves, I saw him walking with Miss Laura alone, in the square; I a pretty sure she has a good liking towards him; bless you, my child, I can tell in a moment—have I not gone through love scenes before? And now, Miss Angelique, I will tell you a tale for your own ears. I know what I know!" "Well! well! Mrs. Bell, and who does not? How wise you look. None of your insinuations about me, for I am very touchy about character, so do not trifle and talk stuff!" "Oh, my dear!" said Mrs. Bell, trying to gloss over her past remarks, "not stuff, then, but silks and satins, if you please, my love, when you are Mrs. Joe Shoeflower." "Do pronounce his name properly; it is Choufleur,” said Angelique. "I can't mouth my lips in conformity, so I will say Flowershoe," replied Mrs. Bell. "Well, what of Joe?" asked Angelique. "Oh! nothing more than that he is a good-tempered old man, worth fifty young ones. Now don't look so bilious, Angelique. Yes! worth fifty. I like him very much-very much-and when I lost MRS. BELL'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 25 my poor old Bell, I thought Joe so often reminded me of the dear departed, that I took quite a fancy to him, and I always give him an extra glass of a Saturday night, when I pay him." "Oh! you do, Mrs. Bell; it is very kind of you. But-but-but-I fancy Joe Choufleur can buy himself an extra glass as you call it; and I beg you to know he is no dram-drinker! I don't choose you, Mrs. Bell, to libel my-my". What, what do you mean, Angelique! is he yours?" "Oh no, Mrs. Bell! I only hope he will be mine; and to tell you the truth, Mrs. Bell, and it is better to be honest, we are to be married next Whitsunday, please Providence." "Angelique! Angelique ! don't tell me so. The old rogue, he told me I should be his second; but I deserve it all, for turning off old Richard, the coachman, who would have married me with a settlement of ten pounds a-year, but I thought Joe much more the gentleman." The breakfast-bell, summoning Mrs. Bell and Angelique to morning prayers, put a stop to conversation which otherwise might have ended not so agreeably. 26 HIS FACE WAS HIS FORTUNE. CHAPTER VII. "Since gold is now the fountain whence all things flow, I will care for it as I would for a pass to travel the world by without begging." "Behold, ye fair, your lovely queen, 'Tis not her jewels-but her mind; all re "Now Laura, that we are by God's mercy freshed with sweet sleep, do tell us all about the ball,” said Mrs. Lockyer. one of my most He is a second "Très, très volontiers, dear mamma. I danced every dance on my carte, which Captain Selby, as steward, presented to me, who was agreeable partners for the evening. cousin to Mrs. De Tracy, and has been by her introduced into our balls. He is a most charming, handsome young man, about twenty-six, with no fortune but his face, as he told me. I was highly amused with him he asked me if I were as some ladies, who dance one hundred and twenty miles in a week |