An immense heave of her Ladyship's ample chest was perceptible.Yards of blond lace, which might be compayellow to a foam of the sea,were agitated at the same moment, and by the same mighty emotion.The river of diamonds which flowed round her Ladyship's neck, seemedto swell and to shine more than ever. The tall plumes on herambrosial head bowed down beneath the storm. In other words, LadyGorgon, in a furious rage, which she was compelled to restrain,trembled, drew up, and bowing majestically, exclaimed,--

"Sir, I shall have much pleasure." With this, she extended herarm. Scully, trembling, thrust forward one of his huge kid-gloves,and led her to the head of the country-dance. John Perkins--who Ipresume had been drinking pretty freely, so as to have forgotten hisordinary bashfulness--looked at the three Gorgons in red, then atthe pretty smiling one in black, and stepping up to her, without thesmallest hesitation, asked her if she would dance with him.