u would love, I will answer your question."

Fanny dreaded to hear a description of Hope Wayne. But Alfred's mind was
resolved. The foolish youth answered with his heart in his mouth, and
barely whispering,

"If you will look in your glass to-night, you will see."

The next moment Fanny's head had fallen into the waistcoat--Alfred
Dinks's arms were embracing her. He perceived the perfume from her
abundant hair. He was frightened, and excited, and pleased.

"Dear Alfred!"

"Dear Fanny!"

"Come Hope, dear, it is very late," said Mrs. Dinks in the ball-room,
alarmed at the long absence of Fanny and Alfred, and resolved to
investigate the reason of it.

The lovers heard the voice, and were sitting quietly just a little apart,
as Mrs. Dinks and her retinue came out.

"Aren't you afraid of taking cold, Miss Newt?" inquired Alfred's mother.

"Oh not at all, thank you, I am very warm. But you are very wise to go
in, and I shall join you. Good-night, Mr. Dinks." As she rose, she
whispered--"After breakfast."

The ladies rustled along the piazza in the moonlight. Alfred, flushed and
nervous and happy, sauntered into the bar-room, lit a cigar, and drank
some brandy and water.

Meanwhile the Honorable Budlong Dinks sat in an armchair at the other end
of the piazza with several other honorable gentlemen--Major Scuppernong
from Carolina, Colonel le Fay from Louisiana, Captain Lamb from
Pennsylvania, General Arcularius Belch of New York, besides Captain
Jones, General Smith, Major Brown, Colonel Johnson, from other States,
and several honorable members of Congress, including, and chief of all,
the Honorable B.J. Ele, a leading statesman from New York, with whom Mr.
Dinks passed as much time as possible, and who was the chief oracle of
the wise men in armchairs who came to the springs to drink the waters,
to humor their wives and daughters in their foolish freaks for fashion
and frivolity, and who smiled loftily upon the gay young people who
amused themselves with setting up ten-pins and knocking them down, while
the wise men devoted themselves to talking politics and showing each
other, from day to day, the only way in which the country could be made
great and glorious, and fulfill its destiny.

"I am not so clear about General Jackson's policy," said the Honorable
Budlong Dinks, with the cautious wisdom of a statesman.

"Well, Sir, I am clear enough about it," replied Major Scuppernong. "It
will ruin this country just