Did I not mention it?--I should have done so before finishing,
papa."
As she spoke, the young lady happened to catch my eye. I was laughing
quietly. Thereupon her head rose in a stately way--a decided pout
succeeded--finally, she burst into laughter.
The puzzled expression of the old Judge completed the comedy of the
occasion--we all laughed in a perfectly absurd and foolish way--and the
rest of the evening passed in the most cheerful manner imaginable.
When I bade my friends good evening, I knew something I had not known
before:--namely, that Mohun the woman-hater, had renewed his "friendly
relations" with Miss Georgia Conway, at her home in Dinwiddie.
Exchanging a pressure of the hand with my host and his charming
daughters, I bade them good evening, and returned homeward. As I went
along, I thought of the happy circle I had left; and again I could not
refrain from drawing the comparison between Judge Conway and Mr.
Blocque.
At the fine house of the blockade-runner--champagne, rich viands,
wax-lights, gold and silver, and profuse luxury.
At the poor lodgings of the great statesman,--a cup of tea and cold
bread; stately courtesy from my host, charming smiles from his
beautiful daughters, clad in calico, with worn-out shoes--and above the
simple happy group, the crossed swords of the brave youths who had
fallen at Manassas!
VIII.
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