We walked on. The crowd swarmed and hummed like bees in a clover-field. Now and then a great gray eagle flapped by, or a bear prowled along; but, after all, it was a clumsy make-believe, and didn't scare anybody much. By and by a lady came along dressed just like me--yellow and black all over. She stared at me, and I stared at her--just my height--just my air--modest, but queenly. There was a trifling difference--she wore a bunch of red roses on her bosom. After staring at me awhile, she drew softly round to the other side, and it seemed as if she was saying something to _him_. I can't tell you what happened next; for just then four great big gilt candlesticks walked into the middle of the room, and began to dance, in a way that fairly took me off my feet. It really was too funny. The style in which they hopped up and down, crossed over, and stalked about, was enough to make a priest laugh. "Isn't it awful queer!" says I, a-turning to the man who had come so far to tell me of his love. He was gone. I stood there alone in the crowd, my limbs shook, my heart sunk like lead. How had I lost him? Wild with a sense of widowhood, I wandered to and fro over that ball-room. Many people spoke to me; some gentlemen in disguise wanted to walk with me; but I evaded them all. Some I answered; to some I gave nothing but sighs. At last I felt tears stealing down under my mask, my strength gave way, I sat down on a cushioned bench in a fit of despondency. The cup of bliss had sparkled at my lips, and been dashed aside. What did I care for the men and women who were whirling, talking, and dancing around me! "Cousin, are you almost ready to go home?" It was Cousin Dempster who spoke; he had been searching for me high and low, and was shocked to find me sitting there alone. I said nothing, but, like that Spartan boy, gathered the yellow waves of my cloak over the vulture that knawed at my poor heart, and followed my cousin out of the crowd--still looking eagerly for that one noble figure, but looking in vain. XXXVII. HOW DID THE PAPERS KNOW?