On the other side was a proper, pretty girl, with a neck like water-lilies, and cheeks like ever-blooming roses. She was a girl that laughed very low, when she did laugh, and looked at gentlemen sideways from under her eyelashes. One of those girls that speak as if ice cream would not melt in their mouths. An awful handsome young fellow came with her. Well, we all stood up waiting for Cousin E. E. to sit down, which she did. Then the rest of us rustled into our places, and half a dozen waiters went circumventing round us with little oysters, shells and all, on plates, which they set down before each of us, with a teinty silver pitchfork to eat 'em with. Then they brought plates with a few spoonfuls of soup in them, which they cleared away the minute we laid down our spoons. After that, came plate after plate, and the waiters kept filling the glasses that stood before us--pink, green, yellow, and white--with cider that bubbled and sparkled, and made the blood come faster and warmer into my face every time I tasted it. At first there hadn't been much talking; but now the ladies grew chipper, as so many canary birds, and the men followed suit. Such soft, low laughing, and such sweet voices I never heard at one table in my life. But while we were all enjoying ourselves so much, the lights in the glass balloon above us began to flash up and down, as if a high wind was rushing over them. Then all at once they quivered--winked furiously, as if they were joking with us--and went out, leaving us all in stone darkness. Then the ladies shrieked faintly, or laughed; some of them jumped up, I among the rest, wondering if the Day of Judgment had come. Cousin Dempster called out for the waiters to go and see what ailed the gas, and all was rustle and bustle and confusion. Perhaps I moved from my seat and dropped into some other without knowing it. I can't be certain about that or anything else; but all at once I felt an arm around my waist, and while I was holding my breath, with astonishment, some one kissed me. I gave a little scream, and pushed away that impudent arm with all my might. The arm wore a coat-sleeve--I can take my oath to that--and if I was used to such things I should say that there was a beard about the lips that touched my face. Sisters, it seemed to me for a minute as if Cousin E. E. really had got a roaring lion in her dining-room. While I sat there breathless and wondering if he would have the impudence to repeat that audacious conduct, a soft hand took hold of mine, and a sweet voice whispered in my ear: "Forgive me, dearest, I did not mean to be rude." I did not speak, but his penitence touched me with compassion. Softly I pressed the hand, in token of a relenting heart. How could I be hard on a man who meant no real harm, considering the temptation.