ophole for my vanity to creep out of,--he convinced me that
all points of 'vantage had been most provokingly well cared for.

"What the plague can be the reason they won't come for _once_, at least,
Mr. J.? One would be less surprised at their not answering to a second
summons."

Jefferson shook his head, in a fashion that expressed more than even
Puff designed Lord Burleigh's shake to convey:[9] adding, by way of
commentary,

"The Bank question, sir! all the Bank question!"

I waited for no more, feeling that this was indeed an explanation
sufficiently satisfactory; since, for some time, it served to account
fully for every possible event, moral and physical,--the depression of
the markets, the failure of the fruit-crop, the non-arrival of the
packets, the sinking of stock, and the flooding of the Ohio.

Joining my friends at the hotel,--an exceedingly good one, by the
way,--we were soon once more in saddle; and, lighted by as beautiful a
moon as ever silvered the smooth surface of the Potomac, off I dashed
with them, for Washington at a slapping pace, in no way regretting my
having visited Alexandria or my premature return, since my day had been
most delightfully passed: and my not having a _soiree_ of my own,
enabled me to assist at one given by a very charming and intelligent
person, to which I was bidden, but in consequence of my engagement to
Mr. J. had no hopes of attending.

FOOTNOTE:

[9] See "The Critic."

THE FANCY BALL.

This species of entertainment, so common in Europe, is in a great
measure a novelty in the States; for although in New York and
Philadelphia _materiel_ may be procured in abundance,--and there is no
lack of either wealth or spirit to put it in requisition,--yet the
society is too much divided to admit of numbers, and variety, sufficient
to relieve the groups from sameness and consequent insipidity. At
Washington, I believe, there had never been more than two or three
attempts made; when, therefore, Senator W----e, of Florida, issued cards
for a "Fancy Ball," with little more than a week's notice, the whole of
the visiting community was thrown into confusion, and, indeed, despair.
A rush was at once made upon the _materiel_; the candidates were many,
the supplies few; and all were eager to monopolise as far as was
possible.

In twenty-four hours after the summons had gone forth, not a plume of
feathers, a wreath of flowers, or a scarf or ribbon _couleur de rose_ or
_flam