Angelina sentencing the owner of the pretty pug to take a very pretty young lady into the corner, and spell "_op-por-tu-ni-ty_"--a spell the _Muff_ does not seem to know lies in taking the _opportunity_ to kiss the fair one, though he has all the evening been admiring her vastly, and would have given anything for such a chance; but next, having to "_lie the length of a looby, the breadth of a booby_," _&c._, he is eminently successful--yet, who shall say the ungainly cub may not one day be an ornament to society! Poor _Muff_! he has no mother or sisters--the only specimens of girlhood known to him are the maids at home, and the school-master's daughter, that dines with the parlour-boarders at Addle House:--brave boy, thou art clever, but semi-civilized! More "_pretty things_" are being redeemed--fans, gloves, lockets, handkerchiefs, and chatelaines,--all their owners being appropriately "done to:"--the _Boa_ condemned to "bite a yard off the poker;" and the _Visite_ to "salute the one he likes best"--which _Garters_ fancies will be her; so, she embraces the table-pillar, and he the _Berthe_, instead--kissing her, sadly to the mortification of _Garters_, who did think the honour worth some trouble. Jemima and Angelina, having disposed of the judicial pawn-brokering establishment, stroke down their skirts, and send round the currant-wine; whilst Master Tom and a few other daring youths consume lighted candle-ends, made of turnip, with almond wicks; and the merry little man, Lark, who can no more be quiet than a robin in a rat-trap, is now hopping with a paper tail, composed of this evening's "_Sun_"--a sun that seems to be incombustible, for the boys are trying to ignite it, but cannot,--only waxing Mr. Lark's pantaloons very much in the rear, and putting the candles out--a trick that caused no end of diversion, not only to the performers, but to every one; who laughed immoderately, more particularly when Mr. Lark led down Mrs. Brown to supper, the antimacassar adhering to his trowsers--the wax, upon sitting down, causing it to stick there. [Illustration] [Illustration: THE CHRISTMAS TREE.]