e
rude of you. Captain O'Connor has spoken of you frequently, and we
girls have been quite curious to see you. There is the music striking
up. I think we had better take our places. I suppose as I am at the
head of my brother's house we had better take the place at the top."

Ralph never forgot that dance. Miss Regan danced with amazing
sprightliness, performing wonderful steps. Her ostrich plumes seemed
to whirl round and round him, he had a painful feeling that every one
was grinning, and a mad desire to rush out of the house and make
straight for his quarters.

"Your aunt is going it," Captain O'Connor remarked to one of the
daughters of the house with whom he was dancing. "She sets quite an
example to us young people."

The girl laughed. "She is very peculiar, Captain O'Connor; but it is
cruel of you to laugh at her. I do wish she wouldn't wear such
wonderful headdresses; but she once went to court a good many years
ago at Dublin, and somebody told her that her headdress became her,
and she has worn plumes ever since."

"I am not laughing at her, Miss Regan," O'Connor said gravely; "I am
admiring her. Conway is doing nobly too."

"I think he looks almost bewildered," the girl laughed. "It's a shame,
Captain O'Connor. I was standing quite close by when you introduced
him, and I could see by your face that you were playing a joke upon
him."

"I was performing a kindly action, Miss Regan. The lad's young and a
little bashful, and I ventured to insinuate to your aunt that he
admired her."

"Well, you shall introduce him to me next," the girl said. "I like his
looks."

"Shall I tell him that, Miss Regan?"

"If you do I will never speak to you again."

As soon as the dance was over Captain O'Connor strolled up with his
partner to the spot where Miss Tabitha was fanning herself violently,
Ralph standing helplessly alongside.

"That was a charming dance, Miss Regan. You surpassed yourself. Let me
recommend a slight refreshment; will you allow me to offer you my arm?
Miss Regan, allow me to introduce my brother-officer, Mr. Conway."

Ralph, who had not caught the name, bowed to the girl thus left
suddenly beside him and offered her his arm.

"Why, you look warm already, Mr. Conway," she began.

"Warm is no word for it," Ralph said bluntly. "Did you see that
wonderful old lady I have been dancing with?"

"That is my aunt, Mr. Conway; but she is rather wonderful all the
same."

Ralph had thought before t