--when he was not a most attentive
listener. You would have thought that he had acquired a sudden
admiration for the brilliant social qualities of Mr. Tom, and that he
had never heard such good stories before.

Well, the Beresfords left about three; and that was the end of Nan's
first ball. On the whole she had every reason to be pleased. She had
acquitted herself fairly well; she had gratified the soft-hearted old
Admiral; she hadn't fallen in love with anybody; and she had seen a
number of celebrated persons in whom she was interested. She thought
she had done a kindness, too, in telling Lieutenant King beforehand of
his appointment.

She was surprised, however, and a little bit annoyed when, on the
afternoon of the next day but one, her brother Tom brought in this same
Frank King to five o'clock tea. He said, with something of a blush,
that he wished to tell her that her news had been true; he had heard
from the Admiralty that morning, and he wished to thank her. Nan was
somewhat cold in her manner; she had thought with some pride that he
was not like the other gentlemen who came about the house in the
afternoon. She had seen enough of them and their idleness, and aimless
flirtations, and languid airs. She had taken Frank King to be of
firmer stuff, and not likely to waste his time at afternoon teas.

He was kind and polite enough, no doubt, and he distributed his
attentions in the most impartial manner--even including two young lady
visitors to whom he was introduced; but Nan seized an early opportunity
of slipping away to her own room, where she resumed certain very
serious studies that occupied her mind at this time. When she came
downstairs again Lieutenant King was gone.

On the following day her holiday ended, and she went down to Brighton.
Many a time she thought of the ball, and always with a pleasurable
recollection. When, however, she happened to think of Frank King--and
it was seldom--it was always with a slight touch of disappointment. No
doubt his leave was extended; probably he was still in town, and
repeating those afternoon calls in Bruton Street. As for Nan, she
honestly did not care to which train of admirers he might attach
himself--whether he was to be Mary's captive or Edith's slave. But she
was disappointed.

'I did think he was a little bit different from the others,' she would
say to herself; and then she would turn to Mr. Lockyer's last
discoveries in spectrum analysis.