those whom he knew best, to give effect to his speech.

'Well, well, my girl,' he said, 'how did you like your partner? Did he
amuse you? Did he compliment you on the roses in your cheeks--ah,
that's the Brighton air, that is.'

'Oh, if you mean Lieutenant King,' said Nan, without any hesitation or
embarrassment, 'I think he is very amusing indeed--very. And very
clever, too, is he not?

'Oh yes, he's a smart young fellow--a smart young fellow is Frank King.
We've had an eye on him for some time back.'

'I should say now,' remarked Nan, with a wise air, 'that he had got his
Three Ones?'

The Admiral stared at her, and then burst out laughing.

'You young impertinence! What do you know about the Three Ones? He
had got his certificates before he was one-and-twenty. But here, I
will tell you something.'

He took her a step aside.

'Hush, now--hush-sh. It is a State secret. Don't say a word. But
I'll tell you what we're going to do with Frank King to-morrow; we're
going to give him the command of the _Fly-by-Night_. What do you think
of that for a lieutenant of five-and-twenty?'

'If he has relatives, I suppose they will be very proud,' said Nan.

'Relatives? Don't you know the Kings of Kingscourt? But there now, I
mustn't keep you talking; I suppose you're engaged for every dance.
Mind you are down at supper while I'm there; I will drink a glass of
wine to the roses in your cheeks----'

And so he was off again before she could say, as she greatly wished to
say--'Oh, Sir George, I would rather talk to you than have to do any
more dancing. Surely there are enough people dancing.'

Then she looked round the room for some considerable time. At last she
said to herself contentedly,

'Yes, I thought he was too clever looking to care about dancing, and I
don't wonder he has gone home. But it would have been nice if I had
had the chance to tell him he was going to have the command of the
_Fly-by-Night_.'

CHAPTER V.

THE SAME.

The night passed quickly, and amid all this bewilderment of music and
dancing and introductions, Nan very soon forgot even the existence of
the young Lieutenant whose acquaintance she had made. Moreover, the
succession of these rapid excitements left no room for anything
resembling stage-fright--although, it is true, each time the band began
anew she felt a little throb. But Lady Stratherne, who had now all her
guests assembled, was so indefatigable in seeing tha