effectually corrected by the tickling of a feather, as by the lash of the
satirist. When Lady Margaret M'Gregor, and Lady Mary Macintosh, for
instance, had almost forced their unhappy partners into a quarrel to
support their respective claims to precedency, Dr. Campbell, who was
appealed to as the relation of both the furious fair ones, decided the
difference expeditiously, and much to the amusement of the company, by
observing, that, as the pretensions of each of the ladies were
incontrovertible, and precisely balanced, there was but one possible
method of adjusting their precedency--by their age. He was convinced, he
said, that the youngest lady would with pleasure yield precedency to the
elder. The contest was now, which should stand the lowest, instead of
which should stand the highest, in the dance: and when the proofs of
seniority could not be settled, the fair ones drew lots for their places,
and submitted that to chance which could not be determined by prudence.

Forester stood beside Dr. Campbell whilst all this passed, and wasted a
considerable portion of virtuous indignation upon the occasion. "And look
at that absurd creature!" exclaimed Forester, pointing out to Dr.
Campbell a girl who was footing and pounding for fame at a prodigious
rate. Dr. Campbell turned from the pounding lady to observe his own
daughter Flora, and a smile of delight came over his countenance: for
"_parents are apt to be partial_"--especially those who have such
daughters as Flora. Her light figure and graceful agility attracted the
attention even of many impartial spectators; but she was not intent upon
admiration: she seemed to be dancing in the gaiety of her heart; and that
was a species of gaiety in which every one sympathized, because it was
natural, and of which every one approved, because it was innocent. There
was a certain delicacy mixed with her sportive humour, which seemed to
govern, without restraining, the tide of her spirits. Her father's eye
was following her as she danced to a lively Scotch tune, when Forester