At that moment there was a surging of the mighty crowd, caused by a band of college students pushing their way through, shoulder to shoulder, singing one of their rousing ditties. Some people who had been standing on their hired rolling chairs had narrow escapes from being flung upon the shoulders of those in front. Some did not escape—Mary for instance, who landed between us as if shot from a catapult.
"I knew I was going to fall, so I just jumped to where I seen you two," said she, with her customary calmness, and then she turned to assure her escort of the gondola, who was anxiously elbowing his way to her, that she was entirely unhurt.
Blushing prettily, she introduced the lad as "Mr. Tom Axworthy—cousin of the Mr. Axworthy you know."
Mr. Tom talked to Mrs. Gemmell with the ease and assurance of ninety rather than nineteen, while I exchanged a few words aside with the maiden:
"Where is the Mr. Axworthy that we know?"
"He had some business to do in town to-night, so he left me in charge of this cousin of his—just a lovely fellow!"
"Humph! Introduced you to any more of his relations?"
"Oh, yes—an uncle; quite an old bachelor, but lovely too!"
"And I suppose you've been round with the uncle as well."
"Not very much. He was to have taken me up in the balloon yesterday, but the cyclone burst it."