'Oh, then, you are not,' said Harriet; 'everyone knows who is out:
I should not have been out now, if it had not been for Frank Hollis,
(he is senior lieutenant at last, you know)--well, when our officers
gave the grand ball at Hull, Frank Hollis came to Mamma, and said
they could do nothing without the Major's daughter, and I must open
the ball. Such nonsense he talked--didn't he, Lucy? Well, Mamma
gave way, and said she'd persuade the Major. Papa was rather grumpy
at first, you know, Lucy, but we coaxed him over at last. Oh, it was
such fun! I danced first with Frank Hollis--just out of gratitude,
you know, and then with Captain Murphy, and then--O Lucy, do you
remember _who_?--and I had a silk dress which Mamma brought from
India, trimmed just like yours, Miss Merton, only with four rows of
lace, because I am taller, you know, and a berthe of--'
Elizabeth could endure this no longer, and broke in, 'And pray,
Harriet, did you learn the book of fashions by heart?'
'Not quite,' said Harriet, with provoking obtuseness, or good humour;
'I did very nearly, though, when I was making my dress.
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