a ball, nay, even to dance a country-dance. The word _reel_, to which
Forester had taken a dislike, Henry prudently forbore to mention; and
Flora, observing, and artfully imitating her brother's prudence,
substituted the word _hays_ instead of _reels_ in her conversation. When
all the party were ready to go to the ball, and the carriages at the
door, Forester was in Dr. Campbell's study, reading the natural history
of the elephant.

"Come," said Henry, who had been searching for him all over the house,
"we are waiting for you; I'm glad to see you dressed--come!"

"I wish you would leave me behind," said Forester, who seemed to have
relapsed into his former unsociable humour, from having been left half an
hour in his beloved solitude; nor would Henry probably have prevailed, if
he had not pointed to the print of the elephant[5]. "That mighty animal,
you see, is so docile, that he lets himself be guided by a young boy,"
said Henry; "and so must you."

[Footnote 5: Cabinet of Quadrupeds.]

As he spoke he pulled Forester gently, who thought he could not show less
docility than his favourite animal. When they entered the ball-room,
Archibald Mackenzie asked Flora to dance, whilst Forester was considering
where he should put his hat. "Are you going to dance without me? I
thought I had asked you to dance with me. I intended it all the time we
were coming in the coach."

Flora thanked him for his kind intentions; whilst Archibald, with a look
of triumph, hurried his partner away, and the dance began. Forester saw
this transaction in the most serious light, and it afforded him subject