h.

Victoria gave a laugh of derision, and this gratification of her
malicious feelings in the misfortune of her rival, put her in high
good-humor.

Dolf hastened to help Clorinda up, but his movements were a little
uncertain, and the first thing he did was to set his foot through the
crown of her bonnet, which had fallen back from her head.

"I'se killed," shrieked Clo.

"Do scream low, like a 'spectable ole woman!" cried the unsympathising
Vic; "yer'll hab de whole house out."

"I don't keer," moaned Clorinda: "I don't keer."

"Why don' yer get up?" demanded Victoria.

"I'll 'sist yer, I'll 'sist yer," said Dolf, making another sidelong
movement.

Clorinda endeavored to help herself, but the effort was a failure, and
there she lay covered with confusion, for she could not think of giving
the real cause of her continued prostration. The truth was she had
knocked one high heel from a pair of Mrs. Harrington's French boots,
which that lady was not likely to miss before morning; and had sprained
her ankle in the process, a very unpleasant situation for a modest and
churchgoing darkey to find herself in, late at night, and her lover
looking on.

"Be yer gwine to lay dar all night!" asked Vic.

"I kin't get up, I tell yer," said Clo.

"Is yer bones broke?"

"Smashed. One of 'em am smashed," answered Clo, ruefully.

"No, no; Miss Clory, not as bad as dat," said Dolf; "don't petrificate
us wid sich a idee. Jis let me sist yer now."

"No, no," cried Clorinda; "wait a minit--my foot--my foot!"

"Hev yer hurt it?" demanded Vic; "let me zamine."

"It's my ankle; can't yer understand?"

"No, I kin't onderstand nothin' 'bout it, only yer makin' a outrageous
ole fool o' yerself, and freezin' us to death. Mr. Dolf, 'spozen we go
in."

"Yer wouldn't desart a sister in distress," said Dolf, dancing about the
prostrate form, unable to comprehend why Clo would not permit him to
assist her; while she huddled herself in a heap, in true spinster fear
of showing her ankles or exposing the borrowed boot.

"Now, Clo," cried Victoria, "jis git up; I won't stand dis fooling no
longer."

"Help me," said Clo; "do help me."

"Hain't Mr. Dolf ben a tryin' dese ten minits!"

"No, no! Bend down here, Vic. Mr. Dolf, if yer's a gemman I ax yer to
shut yer eyes."

"My duty is to sarve de fair," said Dolf, turning his back and peeping
over his shoulder, very curious to know what could be the difficulty.

Clo whispered in V