Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/103

 and passed in flat braids across the back of the head. She was not as much absorbed in epicurean delight as her husband seemed to be, but since he was in a teasing mood it was not worth while to talk to him.

Presently he spoke in an absent tone which seemed a trifle studied, while he held up a fresh bunch of grapes to his own admiring gaze.

"I don't s'pose, Martha, that you'd care anything about going to the Prince's ball?"

"The Prince's ball," cried Martha, with a flush of excitement. Then, recovering herself: "Nonsense, Ben! What a tease you are!"

"Oh, then you wouldn't care to go? Well, I told Edward I didn't think you'd take any interest in it, and I felt pretty sure you wouldn't want the trouble of having a ball-dress made. I know I shouldn't."

"O Ben! Is there really going to be a ball for the Prince, and is Edward going?

"Yes, Edward's going, and he thought may be, as Lucia was in mourning, you might like to take her place and go with him. But I didn't s'pose you'd care much about it."

Martha's face glowed, and Ben's countenance was simply brimming with satisfaction as he watched the dawning upon her of this great, this stupendous idea.

"O Ben! you know I should like to go! Of course you said yes; nowdidn't you? Ah, don't tease! Come, tell me all about it."