niel for ten minutes, using every encouragement and
argument I could think of, and finally threatened him that I would
bring up the whole Rumbullion party, Miss Pilgrim included, telling them
that he had invited them to look at his conchological cabinet, unless he
instantly shook the ice out of his manner and accompanied me down
stairs. This dreadful menace had the desired effect. He knew that I
would not scruple to fulfil it; and at the same time that it made him
surrender, it also provoked him with me to a degree which gave his eyes
and cheeks as fine a glow as I could have wished for the purpose of a
favorable impression. The stimulus of wrath was good for him, and there
was little tremor in his knees when he descended the stairs. Well-a-day!
So Daniel and Billy were rivals!

The latter gentleman met us at the foot of the staircase.

"Oh, there you are, Daniel!" said he, cheerily. "I was just going to
look after you and Uncle Teddy. We've wanted you for the dances. We've
had the Lancers twice and three round dances; and I danced the second
Lancers with Lottie. Now we're going to play some games,--to amuse the
children, you know," he added, loftily, with the adult gesture of
pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the extension-room. "Lottie's
going to play, too; so will you and Daniel, won't you, uncle? Oh, here
comes Lottie now! This is my brother, Miss Pilgrim,--let me introduce
him to you. I'm sure you'll like him. There's nothing he don't know."

Miss Pilgrim had just come to the newel-post of the staircase, and, when
she looked into Daniel's face, blushed like the red, red rose, losing
her self-possession perceptibly more than Daniel.

The courage of weak warriors and timid gallants mounts as the opposite
party's falls, and Daniel made out to say, in a firm tone, that it was
long since he had enjoyed the pleasure of meeting Miss Pilgrim.

"Not since Mrs. Cramcroud's last sociable, I think," replied Miss
Pilgrim, her cheeks and eyes still playing the tell-tale.

"Oho! so you don't want any introduction!" exclaimed Master Billy. "I
didn't know you knew each other, Lottie?"

"I have met Mr. Lovegrove in society. Shall we go and join the plays?"

"To be sure we shall!" cried Billy. "You needn't mind,--all the grown
people are going too."

On entering the parlor we found it as he had said. The guests being
almost all well acquainted with each other, at the solicitation of jolly
little Mrs. Bloomingal, sister