out and line up with the rest! No, I’m not going to see you fellows dance on nothing; I’ve another kind of ball apiece for you, and one between ‘em for the Braithwaites!”

Well, I suppose I always had a nasty tongue in me, and rather enjoyed making play with it on provocation; but, if so, I met with my deserts that night. For the nigger of the Lady Jermyn lay all but hid behind Eva and me; if they saw him at all, they may have thought him drunk; but, as for myself, I had fairly forgotten his existence


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I shan’t tell you if it’s going to rile you, old fellow,” was his reply. And with it reappeared the charming youth whom I found it impossibile to resist. “Heaven knows you have had enough to worry you!” he added, in his kindly, sympathetic voice.

“So much,” said I, “that you cannot add to it, my dear


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