Europe, he tells me."

"Well, what next?" said Rose, to whom Mr Green and his good qualities
were matters of indifference.

"Then I came home. Mr Green walked down the street with me."

"And didn't you see Miss Grove, the belle of the evening!" exclaimed
Rose.

"Oh, yes! I had the honour of an introduction to her. She is a pretty
little thing."

"Pretty! Is that all you can say for the belle? How does she look? Is
she fair or dark? What colour are her eyes?"

"I can hardly say. She would be called fair, I think. I can't say
about her eyes. She has a very pretty hand and arm, and--is aware of
it."

"Don't be censorious, Arthur! Does she wear curls? And what did she
say to you?"

"Curls! I cannot say. I have the impression of a quantity of hair, not
in the best order toward the end of the evening. She seemed to be
dancing most of the time, and she dances beautifully."

"But she surely said something to you. What did you talk about?"
demanded Rose, impatiently.

"She told that if she were to dance all the dances for which she was
engaged, she wouldn't get home till morning."

"You don't mean to say you asked her to dance?"

"Oh, no! She volunteered the information. I could have waited so long
as to have the honour."

"And, of course, you can't tell a word about her dress?"

"I beg your pardon," said Arthur, searching his pocket. "It must be in
my other vest. I asked Mrs Gridley what the young lady's dress was
made of, and put it down for your satisfaction. Rosie, I hope I haven't
lost it."

"Arthur! what nonsense!" said Graeme, laughing. "I am sure Mrs Gridley
was laughing in her sleeve at you all the time."

"She hadn't any sleeve to laugh in. But when I told her that I was
doing it for the benefit of my little sister Rosie, she smiled in her
superior way."

"I think I see her," said Rosie, indignantly. "But what was her dress,
after all? Was it silk or satin?"

"No, nothing so commonplace as that. I could have remembered silk or
satin. It was--"

"Was it lace, or gauze, or crape?" suggested Rose.

"Or tarltan or muslin?" said Graeme, much amused.

"Or damask, or velvet, or cloth of gold, or linsey-woolsey?" said Harry.

Arthur assumed an air of bewilderment.

"It was gauze or crape, I think. No; it had a name of three syllables
at least. It was white or blue, or both. But I'll write a note to Mrs
Gridley, shall I, Rosie?"

"It would be a good plan. I wonder