nd
Trevelyan, now promoted to the rank of Captain, and still enjoying the
unbounded good will and confidence of superiors and inferiors.

The faithful secretary still sustained his former resources for
enjoyment and festivity. He had made himself agreeable to many fair
ladies, acting the part of a gallant attendant, but his heart remained
unimpressed, often a source of keen enjoyment to Captain Douglas, who
vainly tried to captivate his friend in many ways. Mr. Howe was a
distinguished and fine-looking gentleman, remarkably tall and straight,
while the keen glance of his dark eye was sufficient to convince one of
the powers of penetration forming such weighty proportion in the make-up
of his character. His olive skin formed a pleasing contrast to the pearl
white complexion of the beautiful daughter of the household, as they
mingled together in the dance. The sparkle of that lovely eye was enough
to drive the adoring suitors to distraction, yet Mary Douglas coolly
withstood their ardent gaze. Dance and song mingle in successive round.
Youth and age alike join in the fairy scene. Arch glances pass from
courtly cavaliers to beautiful maidens who "blush at the praise of their
own loveliness." The rustle of silken draperies sound to the ear as
unseen music at the hand of the warbling genii. Robes of spotless purity
and gossamer texture flit around, keeping time to the merry ringing
silvery peals of girlish merriment. Such are the scenes that greet the
eye and ear in roaming amid the gay throng at Government House,
Fredericton, on the New Year's Eve of 1828.

It would be a difficult task to make particular mention of the
aristocratic matrons; still it would be a great injustice to pass over a
matter of so much importance. In fact, by some, the married ladies bore
off the palm for beauty and intelligence. Of a certainty the comparison
excepted the ladies of Government House, there being none who could
compete with Mary Douglas, her beauty being of a superior type.

At the ball a married lady of rank wore diamonds valued at a cost
seeming fabulous. Others followed in the wake of such extravagance by
wearing necklaces, bracelets, head-dresses, ear-rings, and brooches, in
almost unlimited profusion. Add to this the magnificent array of Sir
Howard's supper table, its glittering plate in massive style, its
enormous chandeliers, its countless train of liveried attendants, and
you can then only form a very faint conception of the f