"Think? why, that you are very obliging, which at present you are not," answered Percy, laughing; "never mind, Emmy; let us try what our united lungs will do." "You may if you like, Percy, but really I am not clever enough to dance and sing at the same time--I should have no breath left," was her as joyous rejoinder. "Come and dance, Caroline, if you will not play;" exclaimed Edward, who after decorating his button-hole with a sprig of holly, seemed seized with Percy's dancing-mania. "Do give me an opportunity of practicing the graces before I am called upon to display them." "My love of dancing is not so great as to attempt it without music, so practice by yourself, Edward," was Caroline's quick reply. "Without spectators, you mean, Lina," observed her brother, very dryly; and as Emmeline begged him not to tease her, he asked-- "What has put her in this ill-humor, Emmy?" "Oh, I don't know exactly; but if you let her alone, she will soon recover it." "Well, to please you, I will; for you look so pretty to-night, I can not resist you." "Take care, Percy, if you try to turn my head with such speeches, I shall go to Edward, and punish you by not waltzing with you," said his little sister, shaking her head at him with a comic species of reproach. "That's right, Emmy; do not take flattery even from a brother," said her father, coming forward with a smile; "but will you not tire yourself by dancing already?" "Oh, no, papa; I feel as if I could dance all night without stopping." "Not with me, Emmeline," rejoined Percy, shrugging his shoulders with horror at the idea; "I should cry you mercy, before one half the time had elapsed." "But if you are not to be tired, will you not spoil your dress, and disorder all these flowing curls," continued Mr. Hamilton, "and surely that will be a great misfortune." "Indeed it will not, papa; Percy has surely too much regard for me, to willfully hurt my frock, and if my hair should be so troublesome as to get out of order, Fanny will re-arrange it in a few minutes." "If you wish to cause alarm on that score, my dear father," said Percy, with marked emphasis, "You must go to Caroline, not to Emmeline. Thank goodness, I have one sister above such petty misfortunes." "Are you not too hard upon Caroline, Percy?" "Yes, papa, he is indeed; do not mind what he says," answered Emmeline, very eagerly; but Percy said impetuously-- "I am not, Emmeline. I would lay any wager that some thing has gone wrong with her dressing, to-night, and so made her pettish. Her frock is not smart enough, or she does not wear the ornaments she wished, or some such thing." Caroline had fortunately quitted the music-room, or this speech would not have tended to restore her serenity; but before Mr. Hamilton could reply, Edward, who had been to seek Ellen, burst into the room exclaiming--