e honour of dancing with Miss. She thanked me for the
favour I intended her, assured me she never did dance, but signified
a desire of seeing the company, when I offered my service, which was
accepted, not a little proud of being exempted from appearing with her
in a situation, that, notwithstanding my profession to the contrary, was
not at all agreeable to my inclination.

Having supped, and continued the game, till such time as the successive
yawns of the mother warned me to be gone, I took my leave, and went
home, where I made Strap very happy with an account of my progress. Next
day I put on my gayest apparel, and went to drink tea at Mrs.
Snapper's, according to appointment, when I found, to my inexpressible
satisfaction, that she was laid up with the toothache, and that Miss was
to be intrusted to my care. Accordingly, we set out for the ball-room
pretty early in the evening, and took possession of a commodious place,
where we had not sat longer than a quarter of an hour, when a gentleman,
dressed in a green frock, came in, leading a young lady, whom I
immediately discovered to be the adorable Narcissa! Good heaven! what
were the thrillings of my soul at that instant! my reflection was
overwhelmed with a torrent of agitation! my heart throbbed with
surprising violence! a sudden mist overspread my eyes, my ears were
invaded with a dreadful sound! I panted for want of breath, and, in
short, was for some moments entranced! This first tumult subsiding, a
crowd of flattering ideas rushed upon my imagination. Everything, that
was soft, sensible, and engaging, in the character of that dear creature
recurred to my remembrance, and every favourable circumstance of my
own qualifications appeared in all the aggravation of self-conceit, to
heighten my expectation! Neither was this transport of long duration.
The dread of her being already disposed of intervened, and overcast my
enchanting reverie! My presaging apprehension represented her encircled
in the arms of some happy rival, and in consequence for ever lost to
me. I was stung with this suggestion, and, believing the person who
conducted her to be the husband of this amiable young lady, already
devoted him to my fury, and stood up to mark him for my vengeance, when
I recollected, to my unspeakable joy, her brother the fox-hunter, in the
person of her gallant.

Undeceived so much to my satisfaction in this particular, I gazed in
a frenzy of delight on the irresistible ch