WYLVER'S HAjYD.
swagger of his — boisterous, rollicking, beaming with im-
measurable self-complacency.
Stanley Lake left old Lady Chelford's side, and glided
to that of Dorcas Brandon.
"Will you dance this set — are you engaged, Miss
Brandon?" he said, in low eager tones.
"Yes, to both questions," answered she, with the faint-
est gleam of the conventional smile, and looking now
gravely again at her bouquet.
"Well the next, possibly, I hope?:'
"I never do that," said the apathetic beauty, serenely.
Stanley looked as if he did not quite understand, and
there was a little silence.
"I mean, I never engage myself beyond one dance. I
hope you do not think it rude — but I never do."
"Miss Brandon can make what laws she pleases for all
here, and for some of us everywhere," he replied, with a
mortified smile and a bow.
At that moment Sir Harry Bracton arrived to claim
her, and Miss Kybes — elderly and sentimental, and in no
great request — timidly said, in a gobbling, confidential
whisper —
"What a handsome couple they do make! Does not
it quite realise your conception, Captain Lake, of young
Lochinvar, you know, and his fair Helen —
So stately his form, and so lovely her face—
"It does really; and that " one cup of wine"—you
recollect — which the hero drank; and, I dare say, it
made young Lochinvar a little noisy and swaggering, when
he proposed " treading the measure"—is not that the
phrase? Yes, really; it is a very pretty poetical paral-
lel."
When Miss Brandon returned, Lake was unfortunately