CHAPTER IX.
A DANCE.
It is impossible to love and to be wise.
_Bacon_.
Niente piu tosto se secca che lagrime.
"This is what we must do about it," said Kilian, as we sat around the breakfast-table.

"If you are still in a humor for the dance to-night, I will order Tom and Jerry to be brought up at once, and Miss Pauline and I will go out and deliver all the invitations." "Of which there are about five," said Charlotte Benson.

"You can spare Tom and Jerry and send a small boy." "But what if I had rather go myself ?" he said, "and Miss Pauline needs the air.

Now there are--let me see," and he began to count up the dancing inhabitants of the neighborhood.
"Will you write notes or shall we leave a verbal message at each door ?" "Oh leave a verbal message by all means," said Charlotte Benson, a little sharply.

"It won't be quite _en regle_, as Miss d'Estree doesn't know the people, but so unconventional and fresh." "I do know them," I retorted, much annoyed, "conventionally at least: for they have all called upon me, though I didn't see them all.