ns, though I hate 'em, and
would have died without telling a word--not a word--and I shall die
soon, I know I shall." But when the dawn rises, the little maid is
asleep, nestling by her sister, the stain of a tear or two upon her
flushed downy cheek.

Most of us play with edged tools at some period of our lives, and cut
ourselves accordingly. At first the cut hurts and stings, and down drops
the knife, and we cry out like wounded little babies as we are. Some
very very few and unlucky folks at the game cut their heads sheer off,
or stab themselves mortally, and perish outright, and there is an end
of them. But,--heaven help us!--many people have fingered those ardentes
sagittas which Love sharpens on his whetstone, and are stabbed, scarred,
pricked, perforated, tattooed all over with the wounds, who recovered,
and live to be quite lively. Wir auch have tasted das irdische Glueck;
we also have gelebt and--und so weiter. Warble your death-song, sweet
Thekla! Perish off the face of the earth, poor pulmonary victim, if so
minded! Had you survived to a later period of life, my dear, you would
have thought of a sentimental disappointment without any reference to
the undertaker. Let us trust there is no present need of a sexton for
Miss Hetty. But meanwhile, the very instant she wakes, there, tearing
at her little heart, will that Care be, which has given her a few hours'
respite, melted, no doubt, by her youth and her tears.

CHAPTER XXXIV. In which Mr. Warrington treats the Company with Tea and a
Ball

Generous with his very easily gotten money, hospitable and cordial to
all, our young Virginian, in his capacity of man of fashion, could
not do less than treat his country friends to an entertainment at the
Assembly Rooms, whither, according to the custom of the day, he invited
almost all the remaining company at the Wells. Card-tables were set in
one apartment, for all those who could not spend an evening without the
pastime then common to all European society: a supper with champagne in
some profusion and bowls of negus was prepared in another chamber: the
large assembly-room was set apart for the dance, of which enjoyment
Harry Warrington's guests partook in our ancestors' homely fashion. I
cannot fancy that the amusement was especially lively. First, minuets
were called, two or three of which were performed by as many couple. The
spinsters of the highest rank in the assembly went out for the minuet,
and my Lady