him
the first chance to pick out his dances." Mary blushed; but however,
she did go and meet Harleston, at which both Hazel and I laughed
heartily.

Indeed it was a goodly sight to see those two standing side by side;
the one tall, handsome, and built in the mould of a slightly reduced
Hercules; and the other, small, dainty, and lovely, as a sweet flower
growing beside an oak. I could see by the way in which Mary was drawn
to him that it would take but a word from him, and she would surrender.
And as for him,--well, he was hopelessly entangled in the silken meshes
of love's all-powerful net from the first day on which he did lay eyes
upon this beauteous lily-of-the-valley.

But why do I look to them for a picture? Had Harleston but cast his
eyes in our direction (the which he did not) he should have beheld as
great a contrast, and, to be modest, at least one as pleasing to the
eye.

"And how many sets am I to have?" I asked of Hazel.

"Well, I shall consider, and take note of thy conduct, and, if it be
good, I may give unto thee the second,--and the--"

"Nay, nay, by mine honour, I do insist upon having the first, and the
second, and a great many more."

"Oh, Walter, such an appetite as thou hast developed."

"But remember, I have been fasting for a long time."

Then she wrinkled her little snow-white forehead, and seemed weighing
the matter very deliberately. "Well," she said, after she had appeared
to consider at great length, "thou mayst have the first; but I will
_not_ promise thee any more before the dance, and if I do like that
one, mayhap I will give thee some others."

I knew full well what that meant; so I said no more, but made up my
mind to have more when the time did come round. And the time soon did
come; for in those days of happiness and youth the sun scarce seemed to
stay in the heavens for more than an hour at a time; so quickly did
those days of dreams pass by. And yet, though it may sound like a
contradiction, the sun seemed ever to be shining; for we had it in our
hearts. Oh, had we but known the clouds that were to pass over,-- But
there, I must draw the rein again, or I shall be telling the end of my
story ere I shall have come unto it.

So the days flew past like sunbeams, and the evening when the great
ball was to take place at length arrived.

Both Harleston and I had engaged the best tailor in London, and when we
walked into the great audience hall that night there was not