will have plenty of time for repentance, and we might as well quaff to the
last drop the cup of pleasure, which may never be offered to our lips
again." Very soon they were to return to Virginia, and now they proposed
visiting places of interest in the neighborhood of the city.

One morning, after a gay party, and at a later hour than usual, the three
ladies entered the breakfast-room. Mr. Weston was waiting for them. "Well,
young ladies," he said, "I have read my paper, and now I am ready to hear
you give an account of your last evening's triumphs. The winter's campaign
is closing; every little skirmish is then of the greatest importance. How
do you all feel?"

"I do not know how I feel, uncle," said Alice, languidly.

"Alice has expressed my feelings exactly, and Mrs. Weston's too, I fancy,"
said Ellen.

Mr. Weston smiled, but said he should not excuse them from their promise of
giving him a faithful description of the scene.

"Well, my dear sir," said Ellen, "I have a decided talent for description;
but remember, Mrs. Weston, my genius must not be cramped. Do not break the
thread of my discourse by 'Ellen, do not talk so!' A Washington party is
what you have called it, Mr. Weston, a skirmish. You remember how the wind
blew last night. When we reached Mr. ----'s front door, the people had
collected in such crowds in the hall, to get a little air, that it was
fully ten minutes before we could get in. We had the benefit of a strong
harsh breeze playing about our undefended necks and shoulders. As soon as
we were fairly in, though, we were recompensed for our sufferings in this
respect. We went from the arctic to the torrid zone; it was like an August
day at two o'clock.

"We tried to make our way to the lady of the house, but understood, after a
long search, that she had been pushed by the crowd to the third story; and
being a very fat person, was seen, at the last accounts, seated in a
rocking-chair, fanning herself violently, and calling in vain for
ice-cream. After a while we reached the dancing-room, where, in a very
confined circle, a number were waltzing and Polka-ing. As this is a
forbidden dance to Alice and me, we had a fine opportunity of taking notes.
Mrs. S. was making a great exhibition of herself; she puffed and blew as if
she had the asthma; her ringlets streamed, and her flounces flew. I was
immensely anxious for the little lieutenant her partner. He was invisible
several times; lost in the ringlet