ing from the ball in your pocket to comfort
me," she asked, mockingly.

"Yes, I did," Clay answered, unabashed. "I brought you some bonbons."

"You didn't, really!" Hope cried, with a shriek of delight. "How absurd
of you! The sort you pull?"

"The sort you pull," Clay repeated, gravely. "And also a dance-card,
which is a relic of barbarism still existing in this Southern capital.
It has the arms of Olancho on it in gold, and I thought you might like
to keep it as a souvenir." He pulled the card from his coat-pocket and
said, "May I have this dance?"

"You may," Hope answered. "But you wouldn't mind if we sat it out,
would you?"

"I should prefer it," Clay said, as he scrawled his name across the
card. "It is so crowded inside, and the company is rather mixed."
They both laughed lightly at their own foolishness, and Hope smiled
down upon him affectionately and proudly. "You may smoke, if you
choose; and would you like something cool to drink?" she asked,
anxiously. "After your ride, you know," she suggested, with hospitable
intent. Clay said that he was very comfortable without a drink, but
lighted a cigar and watched her covertly through the smoke, as she sat
smiling happily and quite unconsciously upon the moonlit world around
them. She caught Clay's eye fixed on her, and laughed lightly.

"What is it?" he said.

"Oh, I was just thinking," Hope replied, "that it was much better to
have a dance come to you, than to go to the dance."

"Does one man and a dance-card and three bonbons constitute your idea
of a ball?"

"Doesn't it? You see, I am not out yet, I don't know."

"I should think it might depend a good deal upon the man," Clay
suggested.

"That sounds as though you were hinting," said Hope, doubtfully. "Now
what would I say to that if I were out?"

"I don't know, but don't say it," Clay answered. "It would probably be
something very unflattering or very forward, and in either case I
should take you back to your chaperon and leave you there."

Hope had not been listening. Her eyes were fixed on a level with his
tie, and Clay raised his hand to it in some trepidation. "Mr. Clay,"
she began abruptly and leaning eagerly forward, "would you think me
very rude if I asked you what you did to get all those crosses? I know
they mean something, and I do so want to know what. Please tell me."

"Oh, those!" said Clay. "The reason I put them on to-night is because
wearing them is supposed to