ble to enjoy herself, and I do
not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at
liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this
evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of
all.

After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which
game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it,
and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit,
though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less
indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable.

It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness
began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it
so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by
it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and
thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck.
Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the
handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him
in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were
sitting by, did not speak to the children, to advise a little more
quietness in the play. But there were a party of young girls whispering
together behind Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though
she escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be expected,
such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at blindman's buff.
Just at this moment a servant came in to say a gentleman had called on
some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson left the room together, to
see this gentleman. They were scarcely gone before the noise increased
to such an extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour
door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they did so, but
Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of the house, were not
disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, Edward found himself amongst the
group of young girls, who all struggled to get away from him; and then
such a scene of running and screaming, and shouting and romping
followed, as the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran,
and no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that some ran
in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by Marten, amidst the
piled-up chairs. The child, who had been sitting there sometime, and who
did not understand the game, for h