fat and coarse," said Jessie; "but you may judge
for yourself on Monday. Dear Mrs. Langford is so kind as to give us a
regular Christmas party, and all the Evanses and Dittons are coming. And
we are to dance in the dining-room, the best place for it in the
county; the floor is so much better laid down than in the Allonfield
assembly-room."

"No such good place for dancing as the deck of a frigate," said Roger.
"This time last year we had a ball on board the Euphrosyne at Rio. I
took the prettiest girl there in to supper--don't be jealous, Jessie,
she had not such cheeks as yours. She was better off there than in the
next ball where I met her, in the town. She fancied she had got rather
a thick sandwich at supper: she peeped in, and what do you think she
found? A great monster of a cockroach, twice as big as any you ever
saw."

"O, you horrid creature!" cried Jessie, "I am sure it was your doing.
I am sure it was your doing. I am sure you will give me a scorpion, or
some dreadful creature! I won't let you take me in to supper on Monday,
I declare."

"Perhaps I won't have you. I mean to have Cousin Henrietta for my
partner, if she will have me."

"Thank you, Cousin Roger," faltered Henrietta, blushing crimson, with
the doubt whether she was saying the right thing, and fearing Jessie
might be vexed. Her confusion was increased the next moment, as Roger,
looking at her more fully than he had done before, went on, "Much
honoured, cousin. Now, all of you wish me joy. I am safe to have the
prettiest girl in the room for my partner. But how slow of them all
not to have engaged her before. Eh! Alex, what have you to say for
yourself?"

"I hope for Queen Bee," said Alex.

"And Jessie must dance with me, because I don't know how," said Carey.

"My dears, this will never do!" interposed grandmamma. "You can't all
dance with each other, or what is to become of the company? I never
heard of such a thing. Let me see: Queen Bee must open the ball with
little Henry Hargrave, and Roger must dance with Miss Benson."

"No, no," cried Roger, "I won't give up my partner, ma'am; I am a
privileged person, just come home. Knight Sutton has not had too much of
Henrietta or me, so you must let us be company. Come, Cousin Henrietta,
stick fast to your engagement; you can't break the first promise you
ever made me. Here," proceeded he, jumping up, and holding out his hand,
"let us begin this minute; I'll show you how we waltz with the Br