shews himself off in Regimentals:" replied Miss Maitland.

~150~~ "Aye, and we want somebody to talk to," continued her sister.

"'Pon my word, this is strange ill usage," said Maitland.-"I shall
desert."

"Nay," said Tom, "there is no need of that: but if you do, the ladies
shall not be deserted while I have a hand at their service, and I
believe I may venture to offer additional protection on the part of my
Cousin."

Bob nodded assent, and assured the party he was proud of the honor
of the introduction; while Maitland eyed him from top to toe, and was
heartily laughed at by his sisters, which not a little mortified him.

"If that's the case," said he, taking out his quizzing-glass, and
staring each of them in the face in succession, "why I've nothing more
to say upon it, so come along, I am anxious for a dance." The music
just at the moment striking off, a Quadrille was formed, but the younger
sister having declined dancing, Bob, who had no great inclination
to "trip it on the light fantastic toe," had a good opportunity of
following her example, and during the dance they amused themselves with
observations on the dresses and manners of the company before them, in
the course of which he discovered that Maitland was something of the
fashionable insipid, and not very high in the general estimation of the
Ladies, and the contrast between the easy and graceful movements of the
Hon. Tom Dashall, with those of Maitland braced up in military uniform,
and dancing with the stiffness of a Halbert, afforded them high
amusement, it brought to Tallyho's recollection a French Dancing Master
in the country, who, upon the occasion of his annual Ball, perceiving a
gentleman and lady in person and figure perfectly contrasted, the latter
being short and stout, and the former tall and thin, addressed the
Gentleman in the following complimentary stile, as well as his broken
English would admit, "Ma dear sare--bien oblige--ah! ma goot sare--you
vill do me the honneur to lead off de next dance--you do dance as de
_Poker_, and your Lady she do dance as de _Butter fierke_"--(meaning
a butter firkin.) The allusions were exactly in point, and the company
within hearing, did not suffer the sarcasm to escape unnoticed. How far
the observations were well timed by the dancing master, or well received
by the loving couple, is not our business here to enquire.

~151~~ Miss Caroline Maitland was about 20 years of age, of a most
prepossessing an