A Post-Ball Entry:

Cecilia did not attend the ball.
      Instead she sat in her bed, captivated by the stomach-flu. When, however, her mother came up the next morning to tell all about it, it seemed as though she hadn't missed much at all. She commented at this under her breath, and her mother waved it off and said, "Oh, don't be silly, dear! Why, I heard at least a dozen young men lament your absence. Indeed I have not seen so many forlorn men since Genevieve Harrison went out of circulation--and you know what a beauty she was!"
      And so their conversation went. Cecilia did not for a moment believe anything her mother said. No doubt her mother had made those men say those things. She was like that. Always pulling words out of people who never intended to say anything of the sort. And still Mamma went on.
      Cecilia was surprised to hear  Thomas's name among the list of men Mamma recited had given her their most emphatic feelings on the loss of their dear Cecilia.
      She perked up at this. She suddenly felt the need to say something terribly sarcastic.
      "Oh, Thomas was there?! Now here is the only drawback of my having missed the ball last night. I do hope you remembered to send him my condolences." Cecilia hid a smirk.
      Mamma froze. "Condolences?"
      "Yes. Thomas has long been mourning the death of good sense and conversation in such social affairs, and I'm certain that without me there to comfort him he was left quite destitute. Bereft even. It really is a tragedy."
      "Well!" Mamma was left quite speechless. And that was an end to it.