uck again, as sure as I am a woman!" exclaimed the
gentle Mrs. Mullenstalk, rising hastily and spilling a dish of fog all
over the front of her new green and yellow striped grass dress, as she
ran toward the spot whence the voice had proceeded. "I'll to the
palace this very night, and lay my complaint against that wretch.
We'll see whether virtuous ladies are to be insulted in this manner,
and their helplessness trampled under foot!"

The intruder had already disappeared; but as the amiable Mrs.
Mullenstock got her spectacles adjusted, she just caught sight of him
throwing a somerset into a pumpkin-flower; while his laugh still
sounded faintly upon the air, mingled with snatches of a wild refrain,
of which she could only distinguish these lines:

"Oh ho, Granny Mullenstock, how envious you be;
I'll plague you to death, or the hornets catch me!"

The spinster shook her fist and grinned horribly at the broad-mouthed,
innocent yellow flower, down whose throat the varlet had leaped--but
chancing at that moment to catch a glimpse of her own face in a little
bit of mica, which served her for a toilet-mirror, she uttered the
least bit of a little shriek in the world and fainted--her companions,
who had by this time gathered round her, exchanging sly winks and
malicious looks of gratification as she went off.

But we must return to the ball-room, where the fire-flies have got
sleepy, and many of them had already put out their lamps and retired,
and the brilliant company of dancers and promenaders has dwindled down
to a few sets, composed of those ladies who had not been asked to
dance in the height of the evening, and some sour-looking gentlemen in
very tight coats and pants, who had "got the mitten" from their
sweethearts at the door, and were desperately trying to do the amiable
out of sheer revenge. At length even these disappeared; the saloons
were entirely deserted, save by the beautiful mother moonbeam, who
slept upon the fragrant turf, her babe, the silver starlight, folded
lovingly within her bosom.

Yet no, the scene is not quite solitary. Carefully bending aside the
tall, slender spears of diamond-tipped grass that perpetually guarded
the sacred domain of the imperial palace, a cavalier in full armor
appears, making way for a lady, whose long veil of the finest spider's
web completely conceals her head and form, making her seem like an
exhalation, taking, as its highest gift of grace, the shape of woman.