rying to get to
him."

"That must be Lord Lepus; he belongs to the Hare family, one of the most
aristocratic in England. I heard he was to be invited. What an honor!--a
nobleman at our New-Year's fete."

Matilda grew impatient, and pulled her dress away, saying, "That will
do; I hope you've been long enough about it," and without a word of
thanks hurried to join the young people.

"How very rude she is!" thought Ellie. "I always thought that French
people were polite."

Her attention was drawn to the new arrival. "He must be what Jack calls
a swell," thought she, "with that long coat almost touching his heels,
and his button-hole bouquet of carnations, heliotrope, and smilax. How
does he keep that one eyeglass in his eye? It never moves, and yet he
skips about like a grasshopper."

"Shall I present your lordship to one of the ladies?" asked Mr. Hopkins.
"Any of them will be only too happy to dance with you."

"Aw, really now!" answered Lord Lepus. "'Pon my word, they are all such
charming creatures, it is hard to choose. Who is the little one with the
blue veil standing with the gentleman in demi-toilet of gray?"

"That is Alicia. The gentleman is Mr. Golightly. They are to be married
soon."

"How extremely interesting! Pray present me."

His lordship secured the blushing Alicia for a waltz, and was so well
pleased with his partner he danced with her again and again.

After the last dance, Ellie saw Mr. Hopkins setting out the wickets for
croquet. The balls were lady apples with different colored ribbons tied
to the stems, and the mallets were cat-o'-nine-tails, with the pussy end
going the other way.

"Well," thought she, "I don't see but that rabbits know as much as
people. I wonder how they will play."

She did not have to wonder long, for they were at it almost before she
had done thinking. Lord Lepus was a fine player. Alicia was his partner,
and with his help her balls went flying through the wickets in a
twinkling. Golightly and Matilda were in the same game, and did their
prettiest; but his lordship was too much for them.

At last when Alicia sent Matilda's ball spinning, and struck the stake
for her partner and then for herself, Matilda flew in a rage, and
lifting her mallet, struck Alicia a blow on the head, which drove the
teeth of her comb down into the pretty white skin. Poor Alicia gave one
cry, and dropped senseless. Golightly was beside himself with grief, and
pushing Lord Lepus aside as