er discrimination.

"You look very well," he said at last, "only rather tired. That is a
very pretty dress."

She smiled vaguely.

"I didn't know you ever noticed dresses. Yes, I am rather tired. Ah,
there is Mary--and Dick."

The girl came towards them at this moment, looking pretty and
distinguished in her square-cut, dark gown; and Lightmark followed,
carrying her bouquet of great yellow roses, which he held
appreciatively under his nose.

He nodded to Charles Sylvester, who was shaking hands with Mary;
then he turned to his wife.

"If you are ready, dear," he said lightly, "I expect the carriage
is. Miss Masters, you know we have another dance to do. My
brother-in-law will see after you and your bouquet, if you will
allow me."

"Oh, give it me, please," cried the girl, with a nervous laugh. "I
really did not know you were carrying it. Thanks so much."

She had succeeded almost mechanically to Mrs. Lightmark's vacated
chair; and as she sat there, with her big nosegay on her lap, he was
struck by her extreme pallor, the lassitude in her fine eyes. He
ventured to remark on it, when the other two had left them, and she
had not made, as he had feared and half anticipated, any motion to
rise.

"Yes, the rooms are hot and dreadfully full. There are too many
sweet-smelling flowers about; they make one faint. It's a relief to
sit down in comparative quiet and calm for a little."

He was emboldened by her quiescence to resume his chair at her side.

"I won't ask you to dance, then," he said; "and allow me to hope
that no one else has done so."

She glanced indifferently at her card.

"No. 10," he added anxiously; "a waltz, after the Lancers."

"I see some vague initials," she said; "but probably my partner will
not be able to find me, thanks to these shrubs."

"I hope not, with all my heart," said Charles devoutly. "At any
rate, I can sit with you until you are claimed."

"As you like," she replied wearily. "Are you not anxious to dance?"

"I am not a great dancer at any time," he protested; "and to-night
my heart would be particularly out of it. I came for another
purpose."

He spoke tensely, and there was a slight tremor in his voice,
ordinarily so clear and dogmatic, which alarmed the girl so that she
forgot her weariness and meditated a retreat.

"Oh, so did I," she replied with forced gaiety. "I came to look
after my aunt, which reminds me that this is hardly the way to do
it. Will you please t