National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-03

"What Is the matter, Nelly ~ he asks.
How could you be so ridiculous as to
introduce me to him 7" she replies,
"Whv shouldn't Ip
"Why shouldn't you He Is a waiter;
I know that. He was waiting at Mr..
Domville's."
Instead of looking contrte, Roche goes
off into roar of laughter.
" 1t was very stupid Of YOU" she says,
half Grossly, at forced me to be icde to
him"
"What nonsense, Nelly | shouldn't
play you such trick as that, of course.
That is Herbert he is in the same Office
as | am
"You are not joking, Edward, are you J"
she asks quite seriously.
"No; upon my word | am not'
60, am sorry, then," she says i'm
medately but there was somebody
just like him at the Domvilles. What
Shall do 2"
"Come and be introduced, that's all,
III put it right" And they come togeth-
er on to the landing.
my cousin made n mistake, Herbert"
he says, while she stands by him blushing
deeply, Then he adds, laughing, "she
mistook you for "a"
:" made mistake" she breaks in very
quickly, coming step nearer, IL beg
your pardon"
To save her from any further embarrass-
ment, ask her at once for the next dance;
and it is Immediately granted.
BY the by, Miss Linton ! say, when
the dance is over, and we are standing on
the landing again, "you have never told
me what you took me for, An ogre ?'
"Non
What then r.
Her laughing eyes look up with their old
merry sparkle into my face They seem
at the same time to question me whether
| shall be annoyed if she speaks the truth.
She pauses for a moment, and then says,
A waiter" and presses her lips tightly
together,
Thank you"
I But it was quite excusable," she be-
gins, hurriedly.
Thank you again" | remark, inter-
rupting her.
You won't listen,' she says plaintively.
~ want to explain"
"That look SO much like waiter" |
add breaking in again, " that is quite ex-
cusable, taking me for one"
40, no; didn't mean that, Of course"
she says, forced to laugh. But where
was dining, there was a waiter like you-
SO exactly like you" she emphasizes the
word exactly" and glances quickly up at
me as she does SO, "and | mistook him for
gentleman, and thought he was one OF
the guests"
So you make up for it by taken me
for water,n | answered. well, think
the waiter had the best of it,"
But it was excu>able was it not,n she
asks, "you two being so much alike 2"
"You mistaking the waiter for gen.
tleman ? If he was like me, certainly"
mo" with little stamp of her foot
my mistaking you for waiter"
II can't grant that | answer.
Very WELL" she says, with = laugh
Then she adds mischieyously over her
shoulder, as her partner comes for the next
dance. Il think my first mistake was the
more excusable of the two"
" And think the last by far the worst"
| reply.
"Do you2 Well, / am very sorry" she
answers but her eyes belle her as she
goes off laughing into the drawing room.
Fortunately | secure the dance before
supper and take her down.
"You don't wait so well as your
double" she says, as | hand her some
mince-pies. | had Just put them before
her for a minute, and then taken them
away.
me, and | watch her with interest as she
gos round the room. Sooner or later we
must meet face to face; and the awkward
moment comes sooner than expect.
When Miss Linton reaches the door
where Roche is standing with his partner,
she stops there and talks to him when they
are not dancing.
SIS there any lemonade, Edward ?" she .
asks presently. Z" Iwant some, if there is"
That's bad sign, Nelly, after dining
out" he answers with laugh. There
is some down stairs. would get glass
but you see it is my turn. If you don't
mind you will find somebody outside,
think
Roche leads off with the third figure;
Miss Linton comes out upon the landing
and | move from the shadow of the wall
into the light.
She gives quick start with her head,
and opens her eyes in surprise as she sees
me- There is Just little Tightening OF
the lips, faint blush rises in her lips, /
and then she asks me quietly to fetch her
n glass of lemonade.
Roche had said it was downstairs, and .
| find it in the dining-room. | am rather
glad of the excuse to get away and have
my laugh out, for the whole thing is more
and more absurd, since Miss Linton has |
made second mistake, and thinks am a
waiter. 1t is a very natural error, of
course, and to keep up the deception put
the glass on tray and go gravely upstairs.
She is quite composed now, and thanks /.
me mconcernedly as hand her the lemon
ade Then we stand side my side-l hold |
II am sorry for that" answer; but
then, you see, know you never eat mincc
pies p
" How do you know that 2" she asks,
turning round quickly.
Your cousin has told me great deal /,
about you" reply.
"Did he tell you, pray, that | never eat
mince-pies p
=" How should know it, if he did not p
| say, with assumed simplicity.
She looks very incredulous. He didn't |
tell you that, know; though / believe
you men talk a great deal of noncense-
as much noncense as women do"
"You own that about women, then, and |
yet you want them to have seats in Par
lament p
go, now / am certain that you must !
have been at Mr.. Domville's," she cries,
for never said so until to-day at din