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The Little house
EverybodystaredbreathlesslyattheDuke,whowasverymuchstartled,andlookedasifhewouldliketorunaway.’Goodgraciousme!’thedoctorwasheardmuttering,andnowtheheartwasevidentlyonfire,forhehadtojerkhisfingersawayfromitandputtheminhismouth.
Thesuspensewasawful.
Theninaloudvoice,andbowinglow,’MyLordDuke,’saidthephysicianelatedly,’Ihavethehonourtoinformyourexcellencythatyourgraceisinlove.’
Youcan’tconceivetheeffectofit.BrownieheldoutherarmstotheDukeandheflunghimselfintothem,theQueenleaptintothearmsoftheLordChamberlain,andtheladiesofthecourtleaptintothearmsofhergentlemen,foritisetiquettetofollowherexampleineverything.Thusinasinglemomentaboutfiftymarriagestookplace,forifyouleapintoeachother’sarmsitisafairywedding.Ofcourseaclergymanhastobepresent.
Howthecrowdcheeredandleapt!Trumpetsbrayed,themooncameout,andimmediatelyathousandcouplesseizedholdofitsraysasiftheywereribbonsinaMaydanceandwaltzedinwildabandonroundthefairyring.Mostgladsomesightofall,theCupidspluckedthehatedfools’capsfromtheirheadsandcastthemhighintheair.AndthenMaimiewentandspoiledeverything.
Shecouldn’thelpit.Shewascrazywithdelightoverherlittlefriend’sgoodfortune,soshetookseveralstepsforwardandcriedinanecstasy,’OBrownie,howsplendid!’
Everybodystoodstill,themusicceased,thelightswentout,andallinthetimeyoumaytaketosay,’Ohdear!’
