Year: 1869

she could have no wish to avoid me; but
knowing also that any one addressing a


lady without having had the honor of an
introduction runs the risk of being mis-.


taken for a bagman, naturally hesltated a


little.


=" If the goddess wished to enter into


conversation with me, was determined


she should have an opportunity of giving


me hint-the slightest in the world


would have been suib cient-that such pro-


ceeding would not be displeasing to her.


Accordingly walked behind her as close


ly as | could, and prayed that she would
drop either her handkerchief or her glove
| If 1t had even been her parasol, |
wouldn't have called her awkward-that |
might rush to restore it, and commence a
conversation, of which l had an irresisti.
BILE and ensnaring opening ready pre-.
pared.


IL watched for the fall of one of these
objects as eagerly as the sportsman who is
expecting the rise of the game. But the
treasure did not come perhaps she thought
| might keep 1t; ; at all events she did not
| give me the chance.


"What was 1 to doP l could not have
the impudence to walk before the girl, and
drop my own handkerchief 1t would
have been rather too much in the sultan
style, and she could not have been ex.
pected to pick it up. 1 threw myself on
bench for few minutes, and, upon
| looking round, saw that the object of my
thoughts had reached the gate of the gar
dens which leads into Hyde Park. l fol-
lowed her, and, upon looking back when
| was at some distance from the entrance,
perceived the evil spirit hurrying towards
it. at once understood that she had
NAI
viously, and that it was by the merest acci-
dent, and one very unlikely to occur
again, that the goddess was at that moment
walking by herself


My resolution was taken immediately.
| would address her but what was to
sayP might have said thought had
had the pleasure of meeting her at Mrs.
Johnson's, or that fancied she was 3 lady
l had been introduced to il Timbuctoo (;
but these modes of address were common.
place. Should l ask her boldly whether
she would have any objection to my
smoking cigar while she was in the parkY
The very levity of the question would have
saved my vanity in case of rebuff, but it
also appeared somewhat disrespectful, and
l therefore resolved not to put it. More.
over, | now saw that the chased goddess
was walking at q pace the quickness of
which was little tlattering to me, and In
order to obtain any chance of converse.
tion with her, should have to run con-
siderable distance, and speak to her in a
series of gasps. My resolution was there
fore abandoned would not address her
at all for the present.


"Of course however, was not so igno-
rant of the first rudiments of the London
art of love as not to follow her home She
lived close to the park, and, as she stopped
abruptly at her house, had to pass the
very door. Out of sheer kindness to my
vanity, persuaded myself that she smiled
gracefully as she glanced at me, although
1t subsequently, appeared that she had
done nothing of the kind -


Not beinga dramatic author, l did not
dream of getting up Irritation with the
DiVa's maid, and paying her far larger
sums than the postal regulations could re-
quire for transmitting letters to her mis-.
stress it is process which does not al
ways succeed even on the stage-but l
loitered about the house from day to day
and probably was mistaken by the DO
lice for burglar of superior attainments
until at last l ascertained the hour at
which my enchantress made regular
sally from her palace. l followed her for
some time as faithfully as her spaniel
indeed rather more so-for the animal
once put himself completely in my power,
and | was only prevented by the recent
act against dog g-stealers from walking off
with the quadruped, and calling the next
day for the reward, which, if had seen
the owner, would have been great indeed.


Nothing came of all this, until one
day Florence Wilton-which l had as
certained to be her name, and which ap-
peared to be somewhat theatrical--was
observed by her ardent admirer to enter
a music shop in company with her evil
spirit. On their leaving the shop, en-
tered 1t, and, finding they had been pur-
chasing tickets for concert which was to
take place that evening, l Immediately
bought one myself, and had to pay twice
the ordinary charge, because Jenny Lind
was to appear there, as ii she were the
person wished to see. .'ut


"When the time for the concert arrived,
luck and the box-keeper placed me next
to Florence, so close that / could have
squeezed her hand if l had thought
proper but thought it improper, or at
all events that she would not allow it, and
| therefore pretended to listen to the
music. Next to Florence on the other
side, was the evil spirit, and behind her
sat Florence's father, a gentleman whom



of n favorite work. After the first part of
the concert old Wilton withdrew for a few
minutes. At this moment Florence
dropped her programme, but unintention.
ally, and even uncOnsciously. Did l at
that iuncture stoop to pick it up, and pre-
sent it? On the contrary, l covered it
with my foot, and waited anxiously, but
confidently, for what was to follow.


"' How exqulsitely Bdp adOrata was
sung said Florence and Studdini, how
admirable was his romancer


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 sangg'


"'Oh,' replied Florence, it was some
thing about love and ingratitude. What
was the name of Studdini's air p she ex-
looking in vain for the pro-
gramme she had dropped.


80 Pour tdnt dma0ur nc S0yez pas iHgrdte,'
l said markedly, as her eye caught mine.


"She bowed her thanks in confused
proceeded TO inform her friend
of the title.


"The next thing l had to do was to
apologize for my politeness, and to hope
that my speaking unlimited to Florence
udu hOt given OlCusC


"She informed me that what | had
hitherto said could give offense 70 no one.
But her bushes, as looked inquiringly
at her, convinced me that, in spite of her
pretended unconsciousness, she was aware
that had been addressing her personally,
while, al the same time, uttering the mere
name OF a song. believe that, under pre-
text OF further apology, was going on |
10 attack the prejudice of society, which |
prevented conversation between two per.
sons-however desirable such converse
ton might be on the one side-in all cases
where an Introduction had not been oh. !
tanned, when l was stopped by Miss vii. !
ton, informing me that If imagined had
was strange that / should endeaVor to i'm. !
prove my position by making long
speeches This observation stuck in my |
vanity, and wounded IL Yery seyerelV- 7 /