Jack had proposed going , but Kitty had frowned , so he fell back , leaving her to listen and laugh , blush and shrink a little at her partner 's flowery compliments and admiring glances . `` If she stands that long she 's not the girl I took her for , '' thought Jack , beginning to lose patience . `` She does n't look like my little Kitty , and somehow I do n't feel half so fond and proud of her as usual . I know one thing , my daughters shall never be seen knocking about in that style . '' As if the thought suggested the act , Jack suddenly assumed an air of paternal authority , and , arresting his cousin as she was about to begin again , he said , in a tone she had never heard before , -- `` I promised Pris to take care of you , so I shall carry you off to rest , and put yourself to rights after this game of romps . I advise you to do the same , Fletcher , or give your friend in the pink bonnet a turn . '' Kitty took Jack 's arm pettishly , but glanced over her shoulder with such an inviting smile that Fletcher followed , feeling very much like a top , in danger of tumbling down the instant he stopped spinning . As she came out Kitty 's face cleared , and , assuming her sprightliest air , she spread her plumage and prepared to descend with effect , for a party of uninvited peris stood at the gate of this Paradise casting longing glances at the forbidden splendors within . Slowly , that all might see her , Kitty sailed down , with Horace , the debonair , in her wake , and was just thinking to herself , `` Those girls wo n't get over this very soon , I fancy , '' when all in one moment she heard Fletcher exclaim , wrathfully , `` Hang the flounces ! '' she saw a very glossy black hat come skipping down the steps , felt a violent twitch backward , and , to save herself from a fall , sat down on the lower step with most undignified haste . It was impossible for the bystanders to help laughing , for there was Fletcher hopping wildly about , with one foot nicely caught in a muslin loop , and there sat Kitty longing to run away and hide herself , yet perfectly helpless , while every one tittered . Miss Jones and Miss Smith laughed shrilly , and the despised little Freshman completed her mortification , by a feeble joke about Kitty Heath 's new man-trap . It was only an instant , but it seemed an hour before Fletcher freed her , and snatching up the dusty beaver , left her with a flushed countenance and an abrupt bow . If it had n't been for Jack , Kitty would have burst into tears then and there , so terrible was the sense of humiliation which oppressed her . For his sake she controlled herself , and , bundling up her torn train , set her teeth , stared straight before her , and let him lead her in dead silence to a friend 's room near by . There he locked the door , and began to comfort her by making light of the little mishap . But Kitty cried so tragically , that he was at his wit 's end , till the ludicrous side of the affair struck her , and she began to laugh hysterically . With a vague idea that vigorous treatment was best for that feminine ailment , Jack was about to empty the contents of an ice-pitcher over her , when she arrested him , by exclaiming , incoherently , -- `` Oh , do n't ! -- it was so funny ! -- how can you laugh , you cruel boy ?
-- I 'm disgraced , forever -- take me home to XXXXX , oh , take me home to Pris ! ''
Heath Jack Kitty Pris flounces man-trap muslin plumage splendors wrathfully