"Well, dear, if you are satisfied, I am sure I am."

And so the conversation turned on other subjects, and Mr. and
Mrs. Brown enjoyed their moonlight drive home through the
delicious summer night, and were quite sorry when the groom got
down from the hind-seat to open their own gates, at half-past
twelve.

About the same time the festivities at Barton Manor were coming
to a close. There had been cold dinner in the tent at six, after
the great match of the day; and, after dinner, the announcement
of the scores, and the distribution of prizes to the winners. A
certain amount of toasts and speechifying followed, which the
ladies sat through with the most exemplary appearance of being
amused. When their healths had been proposed and acknowledged
they retired, and were soon followed by the younger portion of
the male sex; and, while the J. P.'s and clergymen sat quietly at
their wine, which Mr. Porter took care should be remarkably good,
and their wives went to look over the house and have tea, their
sons and daughters split up into groups, and some shot handicaps,
and some walked about and flirted, and some played at bowls and
lawn billiards. And soon the band appeared again from the
servants' hall, mightily refreshed; and dancing began on the
grass, and in due time was transferred to the tent, when the
grass got damp with the night dew; and then to the hall of the
house, when the lighting of the tent began to fail. And then
there came a supper, extemporized out of the remains of the
dinner; after which, papas and mammas began to look at their
watches, and remonstrate with daughters, coming up with sparkling
eyes and hair a little shaken out of place, and pleading for
"just one more dance." "You have been going on ever since one
o'clock," remonstrate the parents; "And are ready to go on till
one to-morrow," replied the children. By degrees, however, the
frequent sound of wheels was heard, and the dancers got thinner
and thinner, till, for the last half hour, some half-dozen
couples of young people danced at interminable reel, while Mr.
and Mrs. Porter, and a few of the most good-natured matrons of
the neighborhood looked on. Soon after midnight the band struck;
no amount of negus could get anything more out of them but "God
save the Queen," which they accordingly played and departed; and
then came the final cloaking and driving off of the last guests.
Tom and Mary saw the last of them into their carriage at the
hal