thought worthy of your conversation to-night: this is what _gentlemen,
polite gentlemen_, who dance _reels_, call friendship!"

"If I had thought that you would have taken it ill I should dance reels,"
said Henry, laughing, "I would have made the sacrifice of a reel at the
altar of friendship; but we don't come to a ball to make sacrifices to
friendship, but to divert ourselves."

"If we can," said Forester, sarcastically: here he was prevented from
reproaching his friend any longer, for a party of gentlemen began to sing
catches, at the desire of the rest of the company.

Forester was now intent upon criticising the nonsensical words that were
sung; and he was composing an essay upon the power of the ancient bards,
and the effect of national music, when Flora's voice interrupted him:
"Brother," said she, "I have won my wager." The wager was, that Forester
would not during supper observe the geranium that was placed in the
middle of the table.

As soon as the company were satisfied, both with their supper and their
songs, Henry, whose mind was always _present_, seized the moment when
there was silence to turn the attention of the company towards the object
upon which his own thoughts were intent. The lady-patroness, the mistress
of the canary-bird, had performed her promise: she had spoken to several
of her acquaintance concerning the tyrannical schoolmistress; and now,
fixing the attention of the company upon the geranium, she appealed to
Henry Campbell, and begged him to explain its history. A number of eager
eyes turned upon him instantly; and Forester felt, that if he had been
called upon in such a manner he could not have uttered a syllable. He now
felt the great advantage of being able to speak, without hesitation or