'No more did the lamb damage the eagle; but remember the fate of the jackdaw, Mr. Gray-coat! I deserve some ice for my exertions, so come into the hall and get some, and tell me if you have had better luck elsewhere.' 'I have had no partner but Minna Ward, and she trips as if one was a dancing-master.' 'And how has Tom been managing?' 'Stunningly civil! He began with Ave Ward, in the Lancers, and it was such fun--he chaffed her in his solemn way, about music I believe it was, and her harmonium. I could not quite hear, but I could see she was in a tremendous taking, and she won't recover it all the evening.' 'What a shame it is of Tom!' 'Oh! but it is such fun! And since that he has been parading with Pug.' 'She has not danced!' 'Oh no! She got an audience into Meta's little sitting-room--Henry Ward, Harvey Anderson, and some of the curates; they shut the door, and had some music on their own hook.' 'Was Richard there!' 'At first; but either he could not bear to see Meta's piano profaned, or he thought it too strong when they got to the sacred line, for he bolted, and is gone home.' 'There's Harry dancing with Fanny Anderson. He has not got Miss Ward all this time.' 'Nor will,' said Aubrey. 'Tom had put her in such a rage that she did not choose to dance with that cousin of hers, Sam Axworthy, so she was obliged to refuse every one else; and I had to put up with that child!' 'Sam Axworthy! He does not belong to our corps. How does he come here?' 'Oh! the old man has some houses in the borough, and an omnium gatherum like this was a good time to do the civil thing to him. There he is; peep into the card-room, and you'll see his great porpoise back, the same old man that Harry in his benevolence assisted to a chair. He shook hands with Leonard, and told him there was a snug desk at the Vintry Mill for him.' 'I dare say!' 'And when Leonard thanked him, and said he hoped to get off to Cambridge, he laughed that horrid fat laugh, and told him learning would never put him in good case. Where shall I find you a place to sit down? Pug and her tail have taken up all the room,' whispered Aubrey, as by the chief of the glittering tables in the hall, he saw Mrs. Pugh, drinking tea, surrounded by her attendant gentlemen, and with her aunt and Ella Ward, like satellites, a little way from her. 'Here is a coign of vantage,' said Ethel, seating herself on a step a little way up the staircase. 'How those people have taken possession of that child all day!' 'I fancy Leonard is come to reclaim her,' said Aubrey, 'don't you see him trying to work through and get at her! and Miss Ward told me she was going home early, to put the children to bed. Ha! what's the row? There's Leonard flaring up in a regular rage! Only look at his eyes--and Henry just like Gertrude's Java sparrow in a taking--'