Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/92

fashionably dressed, he appeared to belong to the professional class; he had nothing square or practical about his look, much that waa curvilinear and sensuous. Indeed, some would have called him a man not altogether typical of the middle-class male of a century wherein sordid ambition is the master - passion that seems to be taking the time - honored place of love.

The revolving figures passed before hia eyes with an unexpected and quiet grace in a throng whose natural movements did not suggest gracefulness or quietude as a rule. By some contrivance there was imparted to each of the hobby-horses a motion which waa really the triumph and perfection of roundabout inventiveneas— a galloping rise and fall, so timed that, of each pair of steeds, one was on the spring while the other was ou the pitch. The riders were quite fascinated by these equine undulations in this most delightful holiday game of our times. There were riders as young as six, and as old as sixty years, with every age between. At first it was difficult to catch a personality, but by-and-by the observer's eyes centred on the prettiest girl out of the several pretty ones revolving.

It was not that one with the light frock and light hat whom he had been at first attracted by; no, it was the one with the black cape, gray skirt, light gloves, and—no, not even she, but the one behind her ; she with the crimson skirt, dark jacket, brown hat, and brown gloves, Unmistakably that was the prettiest girl.

Having finally selected her, this idle spectator studied her as well as he was able during each of her brief transits across hia visual field. She was absolutely unconscious of everything save the act of riding: her features were rapt in an ecstatic dreami-