coach, leaning gallantly
over the door. My lady held court in her father's box, received
and dismissed, smiled and frowned, with Courtenay as her master of
ceremonies. Mr. Dulany was one of the presidents of the Jockey Club
that year, and his horse winning the honours he presented her with his
colours, scarlet and white, which she graciously wore. The doctor swore
he would import a horse the next season on the chance of the privilege.
My aunt was furious. I have never mentioned her beauty because I never
could see it. 'Twas a coarser type than attracted me. She was then not
greatly above six and thirty, appearing young for that age, and she knew
the value of lead in judicious quantity. At that meet gentlemen came to
her box only to tally of Miss Manners, to marvel that one so young could
have the 'bel air', to praise her beauty and addresse, or to remark
how well Mr. Durlany's red and white became her. With all of which Mrs.
Grafton was fain to agree, and must even excel, until her small stock of
patience was exhausted. To add to her chagrin my aunt lost a pretty
sum to the rector by Mr. Dulany's horse. I came upon her after the race
trying to coax her head-dress, through her coach door, Mr. Allen having
tight hold of her hand the while.

"And so he thinks he has found a divinity, does: he?" I overheard her
saying: "I, for one, am heartily sick of Dr. Courtenay's motions. Were
he, to choose, a wench out of the King's passengers I'd warrant
our macaronies to compose odes to her eyebrows." And at that moment
perceiving me she added, "Why so disconsolate, my dear nephew? Miss
Dolly is the craze now, and will last about as long as another of the
doctor's whims. And then you shall have her to yourself."

"A pretty woman is ever the fashion, Aunt Caroline," I said.

"Hoity-toity," returned my aunt, who had by then succeeded in getting
her head-gear safe within; "the fashion, yes until a prettier comes
along."

"There is small danger of that for the present," I said, smiling:
"Surely you can find no fault with this choice!"

"Gadzooks! If I were blind, sir, I think I might!" she cried
unguardedly.

"I will not dispute that, Aunt Caroline," I answered.

And as I rode off I heard her giving directions in no mild tone to the
coachman through Mr. Allen.

Perchance you did not know, my dears, that Annapolis had the first
theatre in all the colonies. And if you care to search through the heap
of Maryland Gazettes in the g