nd pair, and
Cluffe's own had not, he thought, quite recovered their good looks since
that confounded ducking on the night of the serenade. The gallant
captain, learning that Puddock and Devereux intended walking--it was
only a step across to the barrack-yard--and finding that Puddock could
not at the moment lay his hand upon the buckles, and not wishing to keep
the chair longer--for he knew delay would inflame the fare, and did not
like dispensing his shillings--

'Hey! walk? I like the fancy,' cried the gay captain, sending
half-a-crown down stairs to his 'two-legged ponies,' as people
pleasantly called them. 'I'd rather walk with you than jog along in a
chair by myself, my gay fellows, any day.'

Most young fellows of spirit, at the eve of a ball, have their heads
pretty full. There is always some one bright particular star to whom,
even as they look on their own handsome features in the mirror, their
adoration is paid.

Puddock's shoe-buckles flashed for Gertrude Chattesworth, as he turned
out his toes. For her his cravat received its last careless touch--his
ruffles shook themselves, and fell in rich elegance about his plump
little hands. For her his diamond ring gleamed like a burning star from
his white little finger; and for her the last fragrance was thrown over
his pocket-handkerchief, and the last ogle thrown upon his
looking-glass. All the interest of his elaborate toilet--the whole
solemn process and detail--was but a worship of his divinity, at which
he officiated. Much in the same way was Cluffe affected over his
bedizenment in relation to his own lady-love; but in a calmer and more
long-headed fashion. Devereux's toilet most of the young fellows held to
be perfection; yet it seemed to trouble him less than all the rest. I
believe it was the elegant and slender shape that would have set off
anything, and that gave to his handsome costume and 'properties' an
undefinable grace not their own. Indeed, as he leaned his elbow upon the
window sash, looking carelessly across the river, he did not seem much
to care what became of the labours of his toilet.

'I have not seen her since I came; and now I'm going to this stupid ball
on the chance of meeting her there. And she'll not come--she avoids
me--the chance of meeting her--and she'll not come. Well! if she be not
kind to me, what care I for whom she be? And what great matter, after
all, if she were there. She'd be, I suppose, on her high horse--and--and
't