\"Mr.VanBerg,Iamweary,andIimagineyouaretoo.IthinkI
willsaygood-night.\"
\"Iscarcelywonderthatyouarefatigued.Youhavehadatryingday.\"
\"Ithasbeenahorridday,\"shesaid,emphatically.
\"Itmighthaveendedmuchworse,nevertheless.\"
\"Possibly,\"sheadmittedwithashrug.
\"Youhavemorereasontocongratulateyourselfthanyouimagine,MissMayhew.Eventhatdisagreeablesouvenirofourmorningperil,yourlameness,hasdisappeared,andyoumighthavebeenmaimedforlife.\"
\"Mylameness,likemycourage,waschieflyafraudtobeginwith,andsoondisappeared;butIhaveothersouvenirsofthatoccasionthatIcannotgetridofsoeasily.\"
\"IfIamoneofthem,youareright,MissMayhew;Ishallholdyoutoouragreementthismorning.Youputmeonmygoodbehavior——haveInotbehavedwell?\"
\"Yes,betterthanIhave.Iwasnotreferringtoyoupersonally,buttocertainmemories.\"
\"Weagreedtoletby-gonesbeby-gones.\"
\"Butothersarenotpartiestothisagreement,andeveryreferencetotheaffairisodioustome.\"
\"Ishallmakenofurtherreferencetoit,andyoumustbefairenoughnottopunishmefortheactsofothers.\"
\"YoualsodespisemeinyourheartofmycoursetowardsMissBurtonthisevening.\"
\"IfIdespisedyouwouldIhavesoughtyoursocietythisevening?\"
\"Idonotknow.Idon\'tunderstandyou,ifyouwillpermitmybluntness.\"
\"Possiblyyoudon\'tunderstandyourself,MissMayhew.\"
\"IunderstandthatIhavehadamiserableday,andIhopeImayneverseeanotherlikeit.Good-night,sir.\"
ChapterXIII.Nature\'sBrokenPromise.
VanBerghadbeenlefttohimselfbutalittletimebeforeStantonandMr.Burleighcameoutuponthepiazza,andthethreegentlemensatdownforaquietchat.
\"Well,\"remarkedminehost,withasighofreliefsuchasapilotmightheaveaftertakinghisshiproundaperilouspoint;\"well,thankstoMissBurton\'sgoodsense,theaffairhasendedwithoutanytrouble.Inahouselikethis,\'Satanisfindingmischiefstill\'
whenevermybackisturned,andsometimeshethreatenstogetuparowrightundermynose,asinthisinstance.Iwasa\'blarstedfool,\'asourEnglishfriendshaveit,nottoknowthatMrs.
Chint\'sdrama,althoughbeginningincomedy,mightendintragedyofmylosingsomegoodpayingboarders.StillfurtherdidIdemonstratethelengthofmyearsbyevenimaginingitpossiblethatMissBurtonwouldtakefivehundred,orfivehundredthousanddollarsinanysuchcircumstances.Butthewholethingwasdoneinajiffy,andMrs.Chintswaspossessedtohaveher\'tableauvivant.\'Livelypicturewasn\'tit?Still,ifMissMayhew,whenappealedtobyMrs.Chints,hadconfirmedmydoubts,Iwouldhavetriedtostopthenonsenseatanycost.\"
\"DidMissMayhewadvisethestep?\"askedStanton.
\"Oh,no!Shewasnon-committal.Sheactedasifitwerenoneofheraffair,saveasitmightaffordheralittleamusement.Buttheserowsarenolightmatterstouspoorpublicans,whomustpleaseeveryoneandkeepthewholemenagerieinorder.Mr.Chintswasswearingupanddownhisroomthathehadbeenmadeafoolof.
Mrs.Chintswasforleavingto-morrowmorning,declaringthatshewouldnotenduresuchairsfromaschool-teacher.Theyarerichandhaveanumberoffriendswhoarecomingsoon,andsomymindwasfullof\'strangeoaths\'also,atmyprospectiveloss,whenthisblessedlittlewomanappears,tapsattheirdoor,entersliketheangelintothelion\'sden,andshutstheirmouthsbysomemagicallherown.Andnowthey\'regoingtostay;Mr.ChintswillgivethefivehundredtotheChildren\'sAidSociety,allissereneandI\'mhappy,somuchsothatI\'llsmokeanotherofyourgoodcigars,Mr.Stanton.\"
\"Certainly,half-a-dozenifyouwish.Howdoyouimagineshequietedtheunrulybeasts?\"
\"Oh,Isupposeshegotaroundthemthroughthechild——somewhatasshewonovermywifethisafternoonbymeansofourcrossbaby.
It\'steething,youknow——andyethowshouldyouyoungchapsknowanythingaboutbabies!Nomatter,yourtimewillcome.Thispromenadingthepiazzawithlovelycreatureswhohavebeenhalftheafternoonattheirtoiletsisallverynice;butwaittillyouhaveweatheredinnumerablesquallsinthedeadofnight——thenyou\'lllearnthatteething-timeinahouseholdislikegoingaroundCapeHorn.Well,toreturnfromyourfuturetomypresent.Whensogood-naturedamanasIamgetsintoasympatheticmoodwitholdKingHerod,youcanimaginewhatastatethemother\'snervesmustbeinwhohastostanditnightandday.ButasMissBurtonhadbeencommendedtomycare,IfeltthatIwasindutyboundtointroducehertomywifeandshowhersomeattention.SoIsaidtomywife,thisafternoon,\'I\'mgoingtobringayoungladyintoseeyou.\'
\'DoyouthinkI\'minaconditiontoentertaincompany?\'sheasked,withafaintsuggestionofhardciderinhertone.\'Well,mydear,\'Iexpostulated,\'itwasjustthesameyesterday,andwillbealittlemoresoto-morrow,andIfeelthatIshallberemissifIdelayanylonger.\'\'Oh,verywell,\'shesaid,asifitwereatooththatmustcomeoutsoonerorlater,\'sincethemattermustbeattendedto,letushaveitoveratonce.\'Butblessyou,itwasn\'tovertillsupper-time.AsIbroughttheyoungladyin,thebabywakedoutofafive-minutes\'napthathadcostaboutanhour\'srocking,andIthoughttheroofwouldcomeoff.Mywifelookedcrossandworried——well,itwasprose,gentlemen,prose——notthepoetryoflife;andIsaidtomyself,\'IsupposeIhaveaboutmadeitcertainthatthisyoungwomanwillliveanddieanoldmaidbygivingherthisglimpsebehindthescenes.Ithoughttheladiescouldgetonbetterwithoutmethanwithme,soIbowedmyselfout,gladtoescapethedin;andIsupposedMissBurtonwouldsayafewpleasantthingsinthedirectionofMrs.Burleigh,whichshe,poorwoman,mightnotbeabletohear,andthenshewouldbowherselfout,alsogladtoescape.AnhourandahalflaterIwentbacktoseeifIcouldnotcoaxmywifeawayforadrive,andwhatdoyousupposeIsaw?\"
\"Thebabyinconvulsions,\"saidStanton.
\"Giveitup,\"addedVanBerg.
\"Sweettransformationscene;deephush;mywifeasleepinherrocking-chair,thebabyasleepinthearmsofMissBurton,whoheldupawarningfingeratmetobequiet.Butthemischiefwasdone;mywifestartedupandwasmortifiedbeyondmeasurethatshehadtreatedherguestsorudely.Thegoodfairy,however,wassogenuinelydelightedthatshehadquietedthebabyandgiventhetiredmotheralittlerest,thatwehadtocometotheconclusionthatshefoundpleasureinwaysthatareatrifleuncommon.Bysomemiracleorothershekeptthebabyasleep,andthenmywifeandItriedtoentertainheralittle,butweweretheonesthatwereentertained.Beforeweknewit,thesupper-bellrang,andthenI\'mblessedifthelittlechapdidn\'twakeupandgrinatusall.TothinkthenthatIshouldrewardherbylettingMr.Chintsslapherfacewithafive-hundred-dollarcheck!Iguesswe\'llallknowbetternexttime.\"
\"Didshetellyouanythingfurtheraboutherhistoryorherconnections?\"askedStanton.
Mr.Burleighstrokedhisbeardandlookedratherblankforamoment.
\"NowIthinkofit,\"heejaculated,\"Ibehangedifshesaidawordaboutherself.AndnowIthinkfurtherofit,shesomehoworothergotMrs.Burleighandmyselfa-talking,andseemedsointerestedinusandwhatwesaid,thatIbehangedagainifwedidn\'ttellherallweknowaboutourselves.\"
\"Sheimpresseseveryoneasbeingremarkablyfrank,andyetI
thinkitwillbefoundthatsheispeculiarlyreticentinregardtoherself,\"remarkedVanBergmusingly.\"Well,it\'snotoftenI
takepeopleontrust,butIhavegiventhisladymyentirerespectandconfidence.\"
\"Iassureyouthatthereisnotrustinthisbusiness,\"saidMr.
Burleigh,emphatically.\"Ican\'taffordtoindulgeinsentiment,gentlemen;besides,itcouldn\'tbeanymorebecominginmethaninTomChints.Iwouldn\'ttakeanunprotected,unknownfemaleintomyhouseifshecamewithapairofwings.ButMissBurtonbringslettersthatestablishhercharacterasaladyastrulyasthatofanyotherwomaninthehouse.IoughttohavepreventedthisChintsbusiness,butthenfivehundredisanicelittleplum,andbeforeIpulledmyslowwitstogetherthethingwasdone.\"
\"Bytheway,Mr.Burleigh,\"remarkedStanton,\"IhearthatthepartieswhoarenowatmyfriendVanBerg\'stablearesoontoleaveforthesea-shore.Canyougivemethreeseatsthereaftertheirdeparture?\"
\"Certainly;putyoudownrightalongsideofMissBurton.\"
\"PerhapsVanBergfeelsthathehasthefirstclaimtosogoodaposition?\"
\"No,Stanton,Ishallnotplaceastrawinyourway.\"
\"Youneverwereamanofstraw,Van.IfIwereseekingmorethantoenjoythesocietyofthisyounglady,whoseemstobeembodiedsunshine,Iwouldbesorrytohaveyouplaceyourselfintheway.\"
\"Sunshinebroughttoafocuskindlesevengreenwood,\"remarkedVanBerg,withasignificantnodathisfriend.
\"Well,\"saidMr.Burleigh,rising,\"ifIhadnotfoundmymate,I\'dbeaburrthatthatlittlewomanwouldn\'tgetridofveryeasily.
Good-night,gentlemen.I\'llgiveeitheroneofyoumyblessing.\"
\"Good-night,Van,\"saidStanton,also.\"I\'mnotgoingtostayandlistentoyourabsurdpredictions.NeithershallIpermityoutoenjoyallbyyourselfthedelicatewineofthatwoman\'swit.Whengoodthingsarepassinground,Iproposetohavemyshare.Mypresencecan\'thurtyourprospects.\"
\"Andifitdid,Ik,doyouthinkmesuchachurlastotrytocrowdyouaway?\"
\"That\'smagnanimous.Isupposeyouandmycousincanmanagetokeepthepeacebetweenyou.\"
\"IthinkthechangewillbefarmoredisagreeabletoMissMayhewthantome.\"
\"Youareverypolitetosayso.Good-night.\"
\"Well,\"musedVanBerg,whenlefttohimself;\"I\'vemadeprogressto-dayafterafashion.Wehavebeenquitethoroughlyintroduced——infact\'throwntogether,\'asfateandallherfriendswillhaveit.
Imighthavebeenweeksingainingasmuchinsightintohercharacterascircumstanceshavegivenmeinafewbriefhours.Butwhatamiserablerevelationshehasmadeofherself——cowardicethismorning——fraudthisafternoon,andcoldselfishness,thatcanamuseitselfwiththemortificationandmisfortunesofothers,thisevening.Thisisthemoralsideofthepicture.ButwhenIcameto\'speer\'aroundtoseewhethershehadanymindorrealculture,theexhibitionwasstillmorepitiable.Yegods!thatagirlcanlivetoherageandknowsolittlethatisworthknowing!Sheknowshowtodress——thatis,howtoenhanceherphysicalbeauty;
andthat,Iadmit,isagreatdeal.Asfarasitgoesitiswell.
Butofthetasteofabeautifuland,atthesametime,intellectualandhighlycultivatedwoman,shehasnoconception;withheritisaquestionoffleshandbloodonly.\"
\"Iwonderifitwilleverbeotherwise?Iwonderifhermarvellousbeauty,whichisnowlikeabuddingrose,thatpartlyconcealstheworminitsheart,willsoon,liketheoverblownflower,revealsoclearlywhatmarsitslifethatscarcelyanythingelsewillbenoticed.Whatafateforaman——tobetiedforlifetoawomanwhowill,withsuregradation,passfromatleastoutwardbeautytoutterhideousness!Beauty,inacaselikethis,isbutamaskwhichtimeortheloathsomefingersofdiseasewouldsurelystripoff;andthenwhatanobjectwouldconfrontthedisenchantedlover!
Itwouldbelikemarryingadisguiseddeath\'s-head.NeverbeforedidIrealizehowessentialismentalandmoralculturetogivevaluetomereexternalbeauty.
\"Andyetsheseemstohaveakindofquicknessandaptness.Sheisnotwantinginwomanlyintuition.Istillaminclinedtobelieveshehasbeendwarfedbycircumstancesandherwretchedassociations.
Hermindhasbeengivennobettermeansofdevelopmentthantheknowledgeofherbeauty,thegeneralandsuperficialhomagethatitalwaysreceives,thelittleroundofthoughtthatcentresaboutself,andthedailyquestionofdress.That\'snarrowingtheworlddowntoacagelargeenoughonlyforapoll-parrot.Ifthebirdwithinhasaparrot\'snature,whatistheuseofopeningthedoorandshowingitlarkssinginginthesky?Ifearthat\'swhatI\'mtryingtodo,andthatIshallgobacktomyfallworkwithameagreportfolioandagrudgeagainstnature,formockingmewiththefairestbrokenpromiseevermade.\"
ChapterXIV.ARevelation.
Thenextdaythreatenedtobeadrearyone,fortherainfellsosteadilyastomakeallsunny,out-of-doorpleasuresimpossible.
Manylookedabroadwithfacesasdismalandcloudyasthesky;
forthenumberofthosewhoriseabovetheircircumstanceswithacheerycouragearebutfew.Humanfacescanshine,althoughthesunbeclouded;but,asarule,theshadowfallsonthefacealso,andtheregalspiritsuccumbslikeaclodofearth.
Thepeoplecamestragglingdownlatetobreakfastinthedarkmorning,and,withachildishegotismthatconsidersonlyselfandimmediatedesires,theloweringweatherwhichmeantrenewedbeautyandwealthtoalltheland,wasberatedasifitwereasmallspiteagainstthehandfulofpeopleattheLakeHouse.VanBergheardIdaMayhewexclaimingagainstthecloudsasifthisspitewereaimedatherselfonly.
\"Someofherfriendsmightnotventurefromthecity,\"shesaid.
\"Theyyouthsarenotventuresome,then,\"remarkedStanton,whoneverlostanopportunitytotease.
\"Ofcoursetheydon\'twishtogetwet,\"shepouted.
\"AndyetI\'llwageranyamountthattheyarenotofthe\'saltoftheearth\'inanyscripturalsense.Well,theyhadbetterstayintown,forthiswouldbeaninstanceof\'muchventured,nothinggained.\'\"
\"Youremindmeofacertainfoxwhocouldnotsayenoughhardthingsaboutthegrapesthatwereoutofreach.Butmarkmywords,Mr.
Sibleywillcome,ifitpours.\"
\"Hewouldn\'triskthespoilingofhisclothesforanywomanliving.\"
\"Youjudgehimbyyourself.Oh,dear,howshallIgetthroughthislong,horribleday!Youmencansmokelikebadchimneysthroughastorm,butformethereisnoresourceto-day,butadullnovelthatI\'vereadoncebefore.Letmesee,I\'llreadanhourandsleepthree,andthenitwillbetimetodressfordinner.Oh,good-morning,Mr.VanBerg,\"shesaystotheartistwhohadbeenlisteningtoherwhileapparentlygivingcloseattentiontoMrs.
Mayhew\'sinterminabletiradeagainstrainydays;\"Ihavejustbeenenvyingyougentlemenwhocankillstupidhoursbysmoking.\"
\"Iadmitthatitisalmostasbadassleeping.\"
\"Iseethatyouhaveahomilypreparedonimprovingthetime,soIshallescapeatonce.\"
OnthestairsshemetMissBurton,whowasdescendingwithabreezyswiftnessasifsheweremakingachargeonthegeneralgloomandsullennessoftheday.
\"Good-morning,MissMayhew,\"shesaid;\"I\'mgladtoseeyoulookingsowellafterthesevereshakingupyouhadyesterday.Youwouldalmosttemptonetobelievethatroughusageissometimesgoodforus.\"
\"Ihavenosuchbelief,Iassureyou.Yesterdaywasbadenough,butto-daypromisestobeworse.Iwasgoingtomakeupaboatingparty,butwhatcanonedowhenthewaterisoverheadinsteadofunderthekeel?\"
\"Scoresofthings,\"wasthecheeryreply.\"I\'mgoingtohaveagoodtime.\"
\"I\'mgoingtosleep,\"saidIda,passingon.
\"MissBurton,\"saidStanton,joiningheratthefootofthestairs,\"Iperceive,evenfromyourmannerofdescendingtoourlowerworld,thatyouaredestinedtovanquishthedullnessofthisrainyday.
Don\'tyouwishanally?\"
\"Wouldyoubeanally,Mr.Stanton,ifyousawIwasdestinedtobevanquished?\"
\"OfcourseIwould.\"
\"Lookintheparlorthen.Thereareatleastadozenladiesalreadyvanquished.Theyareoppressedbythefoul-fiend,\'ennui.\'
Transferyourchivalricoffertothemanddeliverthem.\"
\"Stanton,\"laughedVanBerg,\"youareinhonorboundtodevoteyourselftothoseoppressedladies.\"
\"TheprospectissodarkanddepressingthatIshallatleastcheermyselffirstwiththelightofacigar.\"
\"Andsoyourchivalrywillendinsmoke,\"shesaid.
\"Yes,MissBurton,thesmokeofbattle,whereyouareconcerned.\"
\"Ifearyourwitisreadierthanyoursword.Thesoldierthatboastshowhewouldoverwhelmsomeotherfoethantheonebeforehimlosescredittothedegreethatheprotests.\"
\"Youaremoreexacting,MissBurton,thantheladywhothrewherglovedownamongthelions.WhatchancewouldHerculeshimselfhaveofliftingthosetwelveheavyfemalesoutofthedumps?\"
\"It\'snotwhatwedo,butwhatweattempt,thatshowsourspirit.\"
\"ThenIshallexpecttoseeyouattemptgreatthings.\"
\"I\'monlyawoman.\"
\"AndI\'monlyaman.\"
\"Onlyaman!whatgreatervantage-groundcouldonehavethantobeaman?\"
\"Theadvantageisnotsouncommonthatoneneedbeundulyelated,\"
stateStantonwithashrug.\"Iforgethowmanyhundredmillionsofusthereare.ButI\'mcurioustoseehowyouwillsetaboutrenderingthehuesofthisleadendayprismatic.\"
\"Onlybybeingtheinnocentcauseofyourhighlycoloredlanguage,Iimagine.\"
\"Oh,dear,\"exclaimedalittleboypetulantly,ashestrolledthroughthehallandlookedoutatthesteadydownfallofrain.\"Ohdear!
Whycan\'titstopraining?\"
\"There\'sthephilosophyofourtimeforyouinanutshell,\"saidVanBerg.\"Whenahumanatomwantsanything,whatbusinesshastheuniversetostandinitsway?\"
\"Butyouhavenobetterphilosophytoofferthedisconsolatelittlefellow,Mr.BanBerg?\"MissBurtonasked.
\"Now,Van,it\'syourturn.Remember,MissBurton,hehasthesamevantage-groundthatIhave.Indeedhe\'shalfaninchtaller.\"
\"Theworldlongagolearnedbetterthantomeasuremenbyinches,Mr.Stanton.\"
\"Alas,MissBurton,\"saidVanBerg;\"thebestphilosophyIhaveisthis:whenitrains,letitrain.\"
\"AndthusI\'mprivilegedtomeetrepresentativesofthosetwoancientandhonorableschools,theStoicandEpicurean,andyouboththink,Ifear,thatifXanthippehadfoundedaschool,myphilosophywouldalsobedefined.ButperhapsyouwillthinkbetterofmeifItellthatlittlefellowastorytopassthetimeforhim.What\'sthematter,littlefolk?\"sheasked,fortwoorthreemoresmallcloudedfaceshadgatheredatthedoor.
\"Matterenough,\"saidtheboy.\"Thishorridoldrainkeepsusinthehouse,wherewecan\'tdoanythingorstayanywhere.Wemustn\'tplayintheparlor,wemustn\'tmakeanoiseinthehalls,wemustn\'trunonthepiazzas.I\'dliketoliveinaworldwheretherewassomeplaceforboys.\"
\"Poorchild,\"saidMissBurton;\"thisrainisasbadforyouasthedelugetoNoah\'sdove,ithasleftyounorefugeforthesoleofyourfoot.Willyoucomewithme?Noonehassaidyoumustnothearajollystory.\"
\"Youwon\'ttellmeaboutanygoodlittleboyswhodiedwhentheywereasbigasIam?\"
\"I\'llkeepmyword——itshallbeajollystory.\"
\"Maywehearittoo?\"askedtheotherchildren.
\"Yes,allofyou.\"
\"Whereshallwego?\"
\"Wewon\'tdisturbanyoneinthefarcorneroftheparlorbythepiano.Ifyouknowofanyotherlittlepeople,youcanbringthemthere,too,\"andtheyeachdartedoffinsearchofespecialcronies.
\"Maywenothearthestoryalso?\"askedStanton.
\"No,indeed,Imaybeabletointerestchildren,butnotphilosophers.\"
\"Thenwewillgoandmeditate,\"saidVanBerg.
\"Yes,\"sheadded,\"andinaccordancewithaNewYorkcustomofgreatantiquity,madefamiliartoyou,nodoubt,bythatgravehistorianDiedrichKnickerbocker,whogivesseveralgraphicaccountsofsuchcloudyruminationsonthepartofyourcity\'sgreat-grandfathers.\"
\"IfearyouthinkthattheworshipfulPeterStuyvensant\'scounsellorsindulgedinmoretobaccothanthought,andthatthemajorityofthemhadasfewideasasoneofMr.Burleigh\'schimneys,\"saidVanBerg.\"Andyouregardusasthedirectdescendantsofthesemen,whoseliveswerecrownedwithsmoke-wreathsonly.\"
\"Now,Mr.VanBerg,youproveyourselftobeaphilosopherofamodernschool,youdrawyourinductionssofarandwidefromyourdiminutivepremise.\"
\"Well,MissBurton,youstandinveryfavorablecontrastwithuspoormortals.Wearegoingouttoaddtothecloudsthatlowerovertheworld,whileyouaretryingtobanishthem.\"
\"Andif,afterhelpingthechildrentowardsthecloseofthisdismalday,yourheartshouldrelenttowardsus,\"addedStanton,\"youwillfindtwoworthyobjectsofyourcharity.\"
\"Ohwhatafallingoffishere!\"sheexclaimed,followingtheimpatientchildren.\"Knightsatfirst,thenphilosophers,andnowobjectsofcharity.\"
MissBurtonevidentlykeptherword,andtolda\"jollystory,\"forthefriendssawthroughtheparlorwindowsthatthecirclearoundhergrewlargerandmorehilariouscontinually.Thenwouldfollowmomentsofraptandeagerattention,showingthatthetalegainedinexcitementandinterestwhatitlostinhumor.Youngpeople,whodidnotliketobeclassedwithchildren,onebyoneyieldedtothetemptation.Therewaslifeandenjoymentinthatcorneranddulnesselsewhere,andnothingissoattractiveintheworldasgenuineandjoyouslife.
Evenelderlyladieslookedwistfullyupattheoccasionalburstsofcontagiousmerriment,andthensighedthattheyhadlostthepoweroflaughingsoeasily.
Atlastthemarvelouslegendcametoanendamidaroundofprolongedapplause.
\"Another,another!\"wasthegeneraloutcry.
ButMissBurtonhadobservedthattheladiesandgentlemenpresentseemedinclinedtobefriendlytowardstheyoungpeople\'sfun,andthereforeshebroachedanotherschemeofpleasurethatwouldvarytheentertainment.
\"Perhaps,\"shesaid,\"yourpapasandmammasandtheothergoodpeoplewillnotobjecttoanold-fashionedVirginiareel.\"
Ashoutofwelcomegreetedthisproposition.
MissBurtonraisedherfingersoimpressivelythattherewasaninstanthush.Indeedsheseemedtohavegainedentirecontrolofthelargeandmiscellaneousgroupwhichsurroundedher.
\"Wewilldrawupapetition,\"shesaid;\"forwebestenjoyourownrightsandpleasureswhenrespectingthoseofothers.Thislittleboyandgirlshalltakethepetitionaroundtoalltheladiesandgentlemenintheroom,andthisshallbethepetition:
\"\'Dearladyandkindsir:Pleasedon\'tobjecttoourdancingaVirginiareelintheparlor.\'\"
\"Allwhowishtodancecansignit.Nowwewillgototheofficeanddrawupthepetition.\"Andawaytheyallstarted,theyoungerchildren,wildwithglee,caperinginadvance.
