Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/176

 humour. "It would be excellent sport," he exclaimed, "if we could dispossess these fellows of their pretty little girls. I would give any thing." I was entirely of his opinion, protesting that nothing could be more pleasant. Our vexation at our disastrous circumstances had divided us, and the resentment these very circumstances created united us again. We now consulted about the means of effecting our purpose, and soon hit upon measures which promised us success.

The execution of our plan was more successful at first than we had expected, as the final issue of it was more unfortunate and mortifying than we ever could have imagined. The young people had again a dance the next evening; and we prepared the whole hamlet, during the day, for our behaviour on that occasion. We were as gentle as doves, and seemed to be good-nature and condescension itself; wandered through the hamlet, paying very little attention to the girls; joked with the