enciennes. WE move IN OUR
OWN SPHERE."

"Mrs. Perkins is a very kind creature," I said, "and it was a very
pleasant ball. Did you not think so, Miss Kicklebury?"

"I thought it odious," said Miss Fanny. "I mean, it WAS pleasant until
that--that stupid man--what was his name?--came and took me away to
dance with him."

"What! don't you care for a red coat and moustaches?" I asked.

"I adore genius, Mr. Titmarsh," said the young lady, with a most killing
look of her beautiful blue eyes, "and I have every one of your works by
heart--all, except the last, which I can't endure. I think it's wicked,
positively wicked--My darling Scott--how can you? And are you going to
make a Christmas-book this year?"

"Shall I tell you about it?"

"Oh, do tell us about it," said the lively, charming creature, clapping
her hands: and we began to talk, being near Lavinia (Mrs. Milliken)
and her husband, who was ceaselessly occupied in fetching and carrying
books, biscuits, pillows and cloaks, scent-bottles, the Italian
greyhound, and the thousand and one necessities of the pale and
interesting bride. Oh, how she did fidget! how she did grumble! how she
altered and twisted her position! and how she did make poor Milliken
trot!

After Miss Fanny and I had talked, and I had told her my plan, which she
pronounced to be delightful, she continued:--"I never was so provoked in
my life, Mr. Titmarsh, as when that odious man came and interrupted that
dear delightful conversation."

"On your word? The odious man is on board the boat: I see him smoking
just by the funnel yonder, look! and looking at us."

"He is very stupid," said Fanny; "and all that I adore is intellect,
dear Mr. Titmarsh."

"But why is he on board?" said I, with a fin sourire.

"Why is he on board? Why is everybody on board? How do we meet? (and oh,
how glad I am to meet you again!) You don't suppose that I know how the
horrid man came here?"

"Eh! he may be fascinated by a pair of blue eyes, Miss Fanny! Others
have been so," I said.

"Don't be cruel to a poor girl, you wicked, satirical creature," she
said. "I think Captain Hicks odious--there! and I was quite angry when I
saw him on the boat. Mamma does not know him, and she was so angry
with me for dancing with him that night: though there was nobody of any
particular mark at poor dear Mrs. Perkins's--that is, except YOU, Mr.
Titmarsh."

"And I am not a dancing man," I said, with a sigh.

"I hate dancing men;