"Ah, poor _Gatty_!--a very different Patient--" "Yes, _Mother_; but his Ramblings gave me no Distress, except as they betokened the height of his Fever--He fancied himself playing Cards:--and seemed to think People were dancing. He spoke very kindly of you." My _Mother_ wiped her Eyes. "That has been the solitary Alleviation all along," said she. "His old Liking for me has returned." After we had breakfasted, she accompanied me to his Chamber: "Ah, you're come at last," said my _Father_, feebly extending his Hand to her, "I was wearying of _Prue's_ Sighs." "Dear _Father_, I haven't been sighing," said _Prudence_, hastily. "Oh, haven't you though, Mrs. _Prue_?"--She put her Hand before her Eyes, and silently quitted the Room. "My Love, how are you?" says my _Mother_ to him. "I've had fine Company all Night, Mrs. _Honeywood_. I've been to the queerest Ball!--Ah, you think I'm wandering, but I'm not--my Head is as clear as yours. At twelve o'Clock at Night, a Flourish of Tin Trumpets announced the Commencement of the Entertainment." My _Mother_ looked at me in Distress. "An old Joss in the Corner," continues he, "played the Hautboy. A Mandarin kept Time, nodding his Head. Then, down came the Five Senses--you think I've lost mine, but I haven't!--followed by the Shepherds and Shepherdesses, all in _Chelsea_ China, and took their respective Places. A Row of _Dresden_ Cups were the Bystanders, backed by some richly painted Plates against the Wall. Bang! went the Drum. The Ball immediately opened, and I knew not which Dancer most to admire. Such sinking! such rising! such easy Turns and Inflections; such pointing of Toes and presenting of Hands! Meantime, the Music plays faster and faster; the Joss blows himself out of Breath, the Mandarin niddle-noddles, till it makes one's Head spin to look at him. Down falls a Dragon and gets cracked; the others fall and sprawl over him; never mind, he's up again, and they're at it harder than ever. Hands across, down the Middle, turn the Corners and pousette! My Head is too weak to bear it; a small Cream-Ewer invites me into the Card-room. Gratefully I accept it, when one of the Senses assails me, insisting I shall dance the Minuet _de la Cour_. I put her aside, she returns, I burst from her, she pursues; I hurry into the Card-room, where four respectable _Chinese_ are playing at Loo. They make Room for me, I sit down, we get on very comfortably together; when lo you! in burst the Five Senses again, calling me a Recreant, and I know not what all, plucking at me, nipping, pinching, grinning in my Face; the Music playing furiously all the While--They cry out the Prices at which I bought them; one of them names the wrong Sum. I exclaim, 'That's false!' and give her a Cuff that breaks her all to smash. 'Going, going, going, gone!' cries the Auctioneer in the Corner. Down goes his Hammer: the Ball is ended. Why, Mrs. _Honeywood_, Ma'am, you're crying!"