Chapter 3
Consequences Of The Masquerade, Not Uncommon Nor Surprizing
The lady, getting first out of her chair, ran hastily up into the nursery to the children; for such was Amelia's constant method at her return home, at whatever hour. Booth then walked into the dining-room, where he had not been long before Amelia came down to him, and, with a most chearful countenance, said, 'My dear, I fancy we have neither of us supped; shall I go down and see whether there is any cold meat in the house?'
'For yourself, if you please,' answered Booth; 'but I shall eat nothing.'
'How, my dear!' said Amelia; 'I hope you have not lost your appetite at the masquerade!' for supper was a meal at which he generally eat very heartily.
'I know not well what I have lost,' said Booth; 'I find myself disordered.--My head aches. I know not what is the matter with me.'
'Indeed, my dear, you frighten me,' said Amelia; 'you look, indeed, disordered. I wish the masquerade had been far enough before you had gone thither.'
'Would to Heaven it had!' cries Booth; 'but that is over now. But pray, Amelia, answer me one question--Who was that gentleman with you when I came up to you?'
'The gentleman! my dear,' said Amelia; 'what gentleman?'
'The gentleman--the nobleman--when I came up; sure I speak plain.'
'Upon my word, my dear, I don't understand you,' answered she; 'I did not know one person at the masquerade.'
'How!' said he; 'what! spend the whole evening with a masque without knowing him?'
'Why, my dear,' said she, 'you know we were not together.'
'I know we were not,' said he, 'but what is that to the purpose? Sure you answer me strangely. I know we were not together; and therefore I ask you whom you were with?'
'Nay, but, my dear,' said she, 'can I tell people in masques?'
'I say again, madam,' said he, 'would you converse two hours or more with a masque whom you did not know?'
'Indeed, child,' says she, 'I know nothing of the methods of a masquerade; for I never was at one in my life.'
'I wish to Heaven you had not been at this!' cries Booth. 'Nay, you will wish so yourself if you tell me truth.--What have I said? do I-- can I suspect you of not speaking truth? Since you are ignorant then I will inform you: the man you have conversed with was no other than Lord----.'
'And is that the reason,' said she, 'you wish I had not been there?'
'And is not that reason,' answered he, 'sufficient? Is he not the last man upon earth with whom I would have you converse?'
'So you really wish then that I had not been at the masquerade?'
'I do,' cried he, 'from my soul.'
'So may I ever be able,' cried she, 'to indulge you in every wish as in this.--I was not there.'
'Do not trifle, Amelia,' cried he; 'you would not jest with me if you
