Year: 1869

! with my foot, and waited anxiously, but
confidently, for what was to follow.


"How exquisitely BelI adorata was
sung said Florence; and Studdini, how
admirable was his romance!


Studdini, though his upper notes are
decidedly harsh, and his lower ones much
wanting in mellowness, is, nevertheless, a
| pleasing vocalist returned her companion.
What is the name of the air he sang?'
"'Oh,' replied Florence, it was some
thing about love and ingratitude. What
was the name of Studdini's air p she ex-
claimed, looking in vain for the pro-
gramme she had dropped.


60 Pour tdnt a maOur ne SOyez pas migrate,
1 said markedly, as her eye caught mine.
"She bowed her thanks in q confused
manner, and proceeded to inform her friend
of the title.


"The next thing 1 had to do was to
apologize for my politeness, and to hope
that my speaking unlimited to Florence
had not given offense.


"She informed me that what l had
hitherto said could give offense to no one
But her bushes, as looked inquiringly
at her, convinced me that, in spite of her
pretended Inconsistencies, she was aware
that l had been addressing her personally,
while, at the same time. uttering the mere
name of song. believe that, under pre-
text of further apology, was going on
to attack ne prejudice of society, which
prevented conversation between two per-
sons-however desirable such converse
tion might be on the one side-in sll cases
where an introduction had not been OBJ
tanned, when was stopped by Miss Will
ton IN, fOr,nipp mo that If in1o rip aN to a
offended her by uttering a few words, it
was strange that l should endeavor to inn
prove my position by making long
speeches. This observation stuck in my
vanity, and wounded it very severely l
bowed and left the theatre, but not until l
had pushed the fallen programme out of
sight.


81 soon returned, and presented Miss
Wilton with programme, which | said |
had observed her to be without, and which
l pretended to have just procured, where
as | had thrust it into my pocket imme-
diately on seeing her own fall to the
ground. She smiled as she accepted it,
but l trembled as saw the father enter,
lest he should discover the point of the
epigram, or, in other words, see the note
which was contained in the folded bill
The note was written in the style we all
know so well, and I will, therefore, not
trouble you with its contents / will only
say that its object was an unhostile meet
ing between myself and Miss Wilton on
the following morning, without seconds,
ground fixed in Kensington Gardens.
slept but few hours that night, partly from
love of Florence, partly from supping with
B and H, and stepping up till
five, when the meeting was to take place
at eight.


"The next morning,I was first on the
ground"


"More fool youl" said l, interrupting
him "No wonder the girl gives herself
airs when you behave in such an absurdly
attentive style to her."


"Silence, barbarian p Frank exclaimed,
and then continued his story


Though Florence declared she could
never meet me again, she very kindly
pointed out the means by which I could
gain admission to ball which was to take
place the next evening, and at which she
was 20 be present. l spoke to her on the
subject of marriage" (hear, hear, and
laughter from myselD "and was some
what astonished at her saying she had al
ready been offered to one young man, who
had at once refused her, and that she
had from that time Indignantly resolved
to give up ali thoughts of matrimony.


"That very morning" continued my
visitor, 81 called on my father, and told
him briefly that was desirous of getting
married, though not to the lady for whom
he so kindly destined me. My father
taxed me with folly, reproached my intel
lect with infirmity, and ended by saying,
that the young lady whom he had in view,
lob nd
wealthy, than any other was likely to
to the prince of iniquity if 1 refused to
marry Florence Wilton!


IF her name is Florence Wilton
exclaimed, I'll marry her.


"' Why SOP said my father; have you
seen her, them


mo- said l, unwilling to compromise
the girl; i have not seen her but Flor
ence Wilton is a very pretty name, and no
one with any other name shall be my
wife


"'And the young lady you say you
are so desperately in love WITH my
parent suggested.


oh, if l marry Florence Wilton
shall be equally pleased-I must marry
nay dear Florence l declared.


Why you must be mad to take such
a fancy to the girl without having seen
herr was the next paternal remark.
"'What am to dos' l demanded, you
call me mad when l wish to marry that
darling Florence, whom l have never
seen-and forbid if 1 speak of marrying
any one else


"'Marry Florence by all means, said
my father, smiling; she will be at the
ball you say you are going to tomorrow
night, and | will introduce you then to
the whole family


al will dance with her tomorrow
night, and marry her the day AFTER l ex-
claimed frantically.


present. my father answered, as he re.
tired to another room.


when the ball arrived l was intro
duced to Florence, and, as had been ar
ranged, no signs of recognition were ex-
changed. But when we were alone, she
still seemed disposed to forget that we
had ever met, and treated me with the
most rigid politeness. attempted to
touch her heart, but to reach her intelli-
| gence every now and then was all could
do. paid her a few compliments, but
she analysed them, if she attended to
them at all. Then l tried to make love to
her, but one can't make love to marble
statue, excepting in ballet At the close
| of the ball she became a little more
friendly; but by no means in a tender
manner. Before leaving. she informed
me she was going out of town the next
day, and was uncertain as to when she
should return to London. She shook


hands with me as l handed her into the