from any of them; and I thought you were too much of a lady yourself, Miss Murray, to talk about the 'vulgarity' of writing on a large sheet of paper."
"Well, I only said it to tease you. But now I want to talk about the ball; and to tell you that you positively must put off your holidays till it is over."
"Why so?—I shall not be present at the ball?"
"No, but you will see the rooms decked out before it begins, and hear the music, and, above all, see me in my splendid new dress! I shall be so charming, you'll be ready to worship me—you really must stay."
"I should like to see you very much; but I shall have many opportunities of seeing you equally charming on the occasion of some of the numberless balls and parties that are to be, and I cannot disappoint my friends by postponing my return so long."
"Oh, never mind your friends! Tell them we won't let you go."
"But, to say the truth, it would be a disappointment to myself: I long to see them as much as they to see me—perhaps more."
"Well, but it is such a short time."
