a shake-down in red blankets.

It _always_ happened I observed that everybody arrived together.
For weeks we would be alone. I lived once for eight months without
seeing a lady; and then, some fine evening, half a dozen
acquaintances would "turn up,"--there really is no other word for
it. Well, on these occasions, when, instead of departing next
morning, our impromptu guests have sometimes been forced to wait
until such time as the rain or the wind should cease; their pent-up
animal spirits became often too much for them, and they would feel
an irresistible impulse to get rid of some of their superfluous
health and strength by violent exercise. I set my face at once
against "athletic sports" or "feats of strength" being performed in
my little drawing-room, although they were always very anxious to
secure me for the solitary spectator; and I forget who hit upon the
happy thought of turning the empty wool-shed into a temporary
gymnasium. There these wild boys--for, in spite of stalwart frames
and bushy beards, the Southern Colonist's heart keeps very fresh and
young--used to adjourn, and hop and leap, wrestle and box, fence and
spar, to their active young limbs' content. They seemed very happy,
and loud were the joyous shouts and peals of laughter over the
failures; but after seeing the performance once or twice, I
generally became tired and bored, and used to slip away to the house
and my quiet corner by the fire. Rose considered it her duty to
remain at her master's heels as long as possible, but after a time
she too would creep back to silence and warmth, though she never
deserted her post until the noise grew altogether too much for her
nerves; and then, with a despairing whimper, sometimes swelling to a
howl, poor little Rose would tuck her tail between her legs, and
dash out, through the storm, to seek shelter and quiet with me.