, and a grisly beard, which is not at all becoming. But
the most amusing thing was, that what I spoke he did not hear; and
what he spoke I did not understand. He brought me over a box of
_bonbons_; and I complained of the badness of confectionary in our
town. He probably supposed from my grimace that somebody had offended
me at the ball, and answered something, from which--by the gestures
which accompanied it--I could only infer that he intended cutting the
offender in pieces; unless indeed what others would express under such
circumstances may be the common gesticulation of men who live in war.

At last, my quadrille came. The band played the symphony, and the
dancers hastened to seek their partners.

My heart almost burst from my dress when I saw my dancer approach,
and, bowing low, press the little flower to his heart.

I fear my hand trembled as he took it in his; but I only smiled, and
made some observation about the music.

"Ah, you are carrying off my neighbour!" cried the major, laughing,
with one of his "annihilating" gesticulations.

As we joined the columns, somebody whispered behind us, "What a
well-matched couple!"

Ah, Ilma! how happy I was! I felt, as we stood there, hand in hand, as
if his blood were flowing into mine, and mine into his! We waited for
the music; but before it could begin, the noise of horses' feet were
heard galloping up the street, and, at the same time, several cannons
were fired at a distance, which made all the windows rattle. Suddenly
an officer entered the ballroom, with his csako on his head, and
covered with mud, and announced that the enemy had attacked the
outposts.

The major had heard the cannon, and read from the courier's face what
he could not understand from his words.

"Ah, that's right!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands, and again those
fearful gestures by which people express killing. "We were only
waiting for them, _messieurs_; we must ask our ladies for a few
moments' leave--just a few moments, _mes dames_; we shall return
immediately, and meanwhile you can rest."

And he hastened to put on his sword; all the other officers ran to get
theirs--and I saw the gay, courtly, flattering expressions suddenly
change to angry, fierce, threatening countenances; but one and all
seemed eager to start, as if they had expected it all along.

My dancer, too, forsook me to look for his sword and csako. His step
was the firmest, his eye the keenest of all; if I had hither