ould have astonished
that assembly, had they known as much as I fondly suspected.

"Tell me," says I, in a soft whisper, "did you receive a valentine?"

"Did I receive a valentine?" says he. "Why do you ask?"

"Ah!" says I, "do not question me."

"But I must. Tell me something about it."

"It was original. It was poetry," says I.

"Poetry--and yours! How can you doubt its effect?"

"I do not doubt. Are you not by my side?" I whispered.

He drew my hand under his loose sleeve, and pressed it tenderly--so
tenderly, that I did not know when the handkerchief it held escaped from
my grasp to his; but, directly after, I saw him thrust something white
into his bosom. It was my very best handkerchief, embroidered with my
name; but I said nothing--how could I?

We walked on. The crowd swarmed and hummed like bees in a clover-field.
Now and then a great gray eagle flapped by, or a bear prowled along;
but, after all, it was a clumsy make-believe, and didn't scare anybody
much.

By and by a lady came along dressed just like me--yellow and black all
over. She stared at me, and I stared at her--just my height--just my
air--modest, but queenly. There was a trifling difference--she wore a
bunch of red roses on her bosom.

After staring at me awhile, she drew softly round to the other side, and
it seemed as if she was saying something to _him_. I can't tell you what
happened next; for just then four great big gilt candlesticks walked
into the middle of the room, and began to dance, in a way that fairly
took me off my feet. It really was too funny. The style in which they
hopped up and down, crossed over, and stalked about, was enough to make
a priest laugh.

"Isn't it awful queer!" says I, a-turning to the man who had come so far
to tell me of his love.

He was gone. I stood there alone in the crowd, my limbs shook, my heart
sunk like lead. How had I lost him?

Wild with a sense of widowhood, I wandered to and fro over that
ball-room. Many people spoke to me; some gentlemen in disguise wanted to
walk with me; but I evaded them all. Some I answered; to some I gave
nothing but sighs. At last I felt tears stealing down under my mask, my
strength gave way, I sat down on a cushioned bench in a fit of
despondency. The cup of bliss had sparkled at my lips, and been dashed
aside.

What did I care for the men and women who were whirling, talking, and
dancing around me!

"Cousin, are you almost ready to go home?"

It was Co