up my sleeves with some bright ribbon meant for Harry's flags! How
cleverly we succeeded in carrying off a hair-brush, and what a long time
it took to decide how the boys' hair and ties should be arranged! And
then came the flowers, my wreath, and the bouquet to be carried for me
by one of my gentlemen.

We were all ready, I remember, and I was just taking Alick's arm, and we
had all put on our best airs and graces for a solemn entrance to the
supposed ball-room, when, all of a sudden, who should come round the
corner but Uncle Hugh and Harry!

[Illustration: GOING TO A PARTY.]

Oh, those bursts of laughter pealing out again and again! Oh, the
writhings and twistings of Uncle Hugh in his excessive mirth! Would they
_ever_ stop laughing? Even now my cheeks almost tingle with those
painful blushes, and my heart beats with that frightened shame!

And yet it was for Alick that I was chiefly troubled, as I saw him fling
down the flowers and run, while Harry, shouting "conceited young
jackanapes," pursued him at full speed. I had never seen such rough play
or heard such mocking laughter, and I burst into tears, sobbing out my
trouble on my uncle's shoulder as he carried me off and laughingly
soothed me, pressing the prickly wreath all the while against my head.

It was a long time before our adventure was forgotten. Harry's merry
jokes brought the colour over and over again to my face, and the angry
words to Alick's lips. But we were both cured, certainly, for the time,
of any love of display or dandyism!