“Is it not her birthday,” he said, when he gave her the jewel case, “or something, that I can give Cassandra this?” taking a little box from his pocket.

“Oh yes,” said Alice; “show it to us.”

“Will you have it?” he asked me.

I held out my hand, and he put on my third finger a diamond ring, which was like a star.

“How well it looks on your long hand!” said Alice.

“What unsuspected tastes I find I have!” I answered.  “I am passionately fond of rings; this delights me.”

His swarthy face flushed with pleasure at my words; but, according to his wont, he said nothing.

A few days after his return, a man came into the yard, leading a powerful horse chafing in his halter, which he took to the stable.  Charles asked me to look at a new purchase he had made in Pennsylvania.  The strange man was lounging about the stalls when we went in, inspecting the horses with a knowing air.

“I declare, sir,” said Jesse, “I am afeared to tackle this ere animal; he’s a reglar brute, and no mistake.”

“He’ll be tame enough; he is but four years old.”

“He’s never been in a carriage,” said the man.

“Lead him out, will you?”

The man obeyed.  The horse was a fine creature, black, and thick-maned; but the whites of his eyes were not clear; they were streaked with red, and he attempted continually to turn his nostrils inside out.  Altogether, I thought him diabolical.

“What’s the matter with his eyes?” Charles asked.

“I think, sir,” the man replied, “as how they got inflamed like, in the boat coming from New York.  It’s nothing perticalar, I believe.”

Alice declared it was too bad, when she heard there was another horse in the stable.  She would not look at him, and said she would never ride with Charles when he drove him.

I had been taking lessons of Professor Simpson, and was ready for the ball.  All the girls from the Academy were going in white, except Helen, who was to wear pink silk.  It was to be a military ball, and strangers were expected.  Ben Somers, and our Rosville beaux, were of course to be there, all in uniform, except Ben, who preferred the dress of a gentleman, he said,—­silk stockings, pumps, and a white cravat.

We were dressed by nine o’clock, Alice in black velvet, with a wreath of flowers in her black hair—­I in alight blue velvet bodice, and white silk skirt.  We were waiting for the ball hack to come for us, as hat was the custom, for no one owned a close coach in Rosville, when Charles brought in some splendid scarlet flowers which he gave to Alice.

“Where are Cassandra’s?”

“She does not care for flowers; besides, she would throw them away on her first partner.”

He put us in the coach, and went back.  I was glad he did not come with us, and gave myself up to the excitement of my first ball.  Alice was surrounded by her acquaintances at once, and I was asked to dance a quadrille by Mr. Parker, whose gloves were much too large, and whose white trowsers were much too long.