The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-11-23

For my own part, as soon as l had
extricatcd myself from the terrible
crash, covered with confusion and
shame, retreated into the most OBJ
scurc corner Of the room, whero |
sought to hide myself and my over.
whelning modification, behind the
guests who were loungins about
there.
The call to dinner served as re.
lief to my embarrassment, for hoped
that that wonld engross every one
attention, which now, I GUILD not
holp feeling, must be occupied with
my awkwardness. Following the
company into the dining-room, I saw
that each plate contained a card, on
which was written the name Of the
guest who was to occupy the place
thus designated. Every ono seemed
to find his own place by magic; but
for me, four or five times did | make
tho circuit Of the table, looking in
vain for mine. Indeed, know not
but might have continued running
about unnotlced among the crowd Of
servants, all dinner time, had not
Madame O.'s eye at length detected
me, as | circlc,l round and round,
With an hysterically increasing ra.
pldity, my eyes dim with confusion,
and clamny perspiration bodewing
cvory pore of my body; and / at
length sunk into my seat, when found,
fairly exhausted with modification
snd shame. Here, again, l found
myself embarrassed With my hat,
which, having observed that all re.
tanned iii their hands in the drawing
room, still graspcd with nervous
pcrtinacity. This I at length dis.
posed of, as l thought at the time,
with wonderful ingenuity; for / hung
1t by the bvim betwccn ,sx knees,
-Srr4ads :. .l.a..ll... III. s-L's5AAS<A 1rEi5
u pen cavity.
My seat was next to young lady,
whom Of course, | vas expected to
entertain. entertain ! Wofully,
already. had | entertained the com.
pany; but [ found myself infinitely
better adapted to entertain n compa-
ny en- mn'se than sinyulWim.
The ordinary routine, Of a French
dinner now commenced. Soup and
bouillie, fish. and fowl, and flesh; en-
tremets aud horS d rurres,mhilc
regular series of servants appeared
each instant at our elbows, inviting
ns to partakc Of thousand different
dishes, and as many different kinds
of wine, all under strings Of names
which | no more understood, than |
understood their composition, or than
they did my gnuchcyies. Resolute
to avoid all further opportunities for
displaying my predominant trait, l
sat in the most obstinate silence, say.
Ing "omi" to everything that was
offered inc, and eating with a most
devoted application, till in an evil
hour, my fair ncighbor, weary of my
taciturnity, and her own, at length
herself began a conversation, by ask.
ing how | was pleased with the opera.
The question was put at an unlucky
moment. I was just raising a large
morscl to my mouth; and in order to
reply as quickly as possible, I hastily
thrust it in, intending to swallow is
as hastily. Good Heavens ! 1t was at
hot as burning lava. What could
do ? The lady's eyes we're fixed on
me, waiting reply to her question.
But my mouth was in flames. Ii
vain l rolled the burning morsel
hithcr and thither, rocking my head
from side to side, while my eyes,
which inyoluntarily 1 had fixed on
her, were straining from their sockets.
She regarded my grimaces, of the
cause Of which / believe she was
ignorant, with an expression Of
auiazcment and surprise, at which l
can laugh noav when | think Of it.
"Monsicur est maladc!' at length
she gently, and in an anxious tone,
inquired. | could hear no more.
My mouth was hayed with the burn,
Ing mass, and smarting with intolcr-
able pain; SO, quietly abandoning
the point, [ opened it to its utmost,
and out dropped the informal fire
brand upon my plate. Not the
slightest tendency to smile, yisibly
rufflcd the impcrturable politencss Of
the lady. She soothingly condoed
with me on my misfortune, then
gradually led the conversation to
a variety of topics; till, excrting the
magic influence that true politeness
always exercises, [ began to forget
even my own blundcrs. Gradually,
my cheeks burned less painfully, and
could even join in tho conversation
without the fear that every word 1
uttered shared tho fate Of every &C,