ON CLB; MD80S FLC DECLARED EMER DUE TO UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE CABIN. ACFT RETURN LAND WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR MAINT.

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WE WERE DELAYED AT DEP TIME DUE TO A MECHANICAL; WHICH I BELIEVE WAS ENG RELATED. A SHORT TIME LATER THE LOGBOOK WAS SIGNED AND WE WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE. AT APPROX 10000 FT; THE BELL CHIMED AND I BEGAN PREPARING THE MEAL AND BEVERAGE CARTS FOR SVC. I WAS IN THE GALLEY AND WASN'T ABLE TO NOTICE WE WERE STILL FLYING AT A LOWER ALT THAN NORMAL. ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT DID NOTICE AND ADVISED ME NOT TO START THE SVC YET. AT THAT VERY MOMENT; THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT CALLED AND ADVISED ME WE WOULD RETURN TO DFW DUE TO A PRESSURIZATION PROB. I PROCEEDED TO CLEAN UP/LOCK UP ALL CARTS AND GALLEY ITEMS. SHE ALSO SAID THE CAPT WOULD MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT; WHICH HE DID. HE ADVISED ALL PAX THAT IT WAS PROC TO HAVE FIRE ENGS ON HAND SINCE WE WERE CARRYING A LOT OF FUEL. THE PAX WERE EXCELLENT AND NO ONE REACTED IN ANY SEVERE NEGATIVE WAY. WE ANSWERED ALL THEIR QUESTIONS AND REMAINED CALM. THE CAPT AND FO BOTH CALLED TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD FOLLOW NORMAL LNDG PROCS; WHICH WE DID. ALL WENT WELL AND THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS IN DALLAS.