is impossible.

Then he goes to bed, and spends the next four hours miserably, as he
falls into a heavy slumber, and dreams that oysters, pearl-laden, are
rushing boisterously over his body.

CHAPTER XVI.

"There was a sound of revelry by night."--BYRON.

So Dorian returns to town, and stays there until the annual hunt ball,
of which he is a steward, summons him back to Pullingham.

It is, of course, the event of the season, this ball, and occurs early
in March. Clarissa, going down to the vicarage,--where, now, indeed,
she spends a good deal of her time,--speaks to the girls about it.

"I am so glad Georgie is in time for it," says Cissy, who is a
warm-hearted little soul, and who desires good for every one. "There
is something so nice about a real big ball."

"A ball!" says Georgie, growing a delicate pink, with excitement. "I
never was at a real ball in my life. Oh, Clarissa, will you take me?"

"Georgie! As if it isn't a real joy to me to have you," says Clarissa,
reproachfully. "I can't bear going anywhere by myself, and Mrs. Grey
always insists on taking Cissy."

"Well, she is very kind, you know," says Cissy, with some regret. "But
I do so wish she would let me go with _you_. However, mamma would not
like me to refuse her, and, after all, I shall meet you both in the
room. I wish we could manage to arrive just at the same moment."

"Well, I'll settle that with Mrs. Grey," says Clarissa. "Dorian will
get me a ticket for Georgie."

"Who is Dorian?" asks Georgie, idly. Literally, she cares nothing
about him, regarding him in this instance as merely a means to an
end,--a person who can obtain for her an entrance into a desired
haven. She has, indeed, forgotten that once before she asked this same
question and received her answer.

"Why, I told you," says Clarissa. "He is Lord Sartoris's nephew,--the
tall handsome young man who spoke to me at the concert."

"I didn't see him. When is this ball to be?"

"On the 5th. And now, about your dresses?"

"Mine goes without telling," says Cissy, in a resigned tone. "The
whole county knows it by heart by this time. After all, there is a
sort of comfort in everything, even in one's misfortune. Now, all _my_
young men won't have the trouble of looking for me, they will know me
directly, the instant their eyes light upon my gown, which is fast
becoming an heirloom."

"If it is the gown you wore the other night at the Bellews', you look
very sweet in it