Leonore," he thought, "or
I shan't be attentive." So he turned his face away from the room
heroically. As for Dorothy, she walked away with a smile of contentment.
"There, miss," she remarked, "we'll see if you can trample on dear old
Peter!"

"Who's that girl to whom Mr. Stirling is talking?" asked Leonore of her
partner.

"Ah, that's the rich Miss Biddle, of Philadelphia," replied the
scoundrel, in very gentleman-like accents for one of his class. "They
say she's never been able to find a man good enough for her, and so
she's keeping herself on ice till she dies, in hopes that she'll find
one in heaven. She's a great catch."

"She's decidedly good-looking," said Leonore.

"Think so? Some people do. I don't. I don't like blondes."

When Leonore had progressed as far as her fourth partner, she asked:
"What sort of a girl is that Miss Biddle?"

"She's really stunning," she was told. "Fellows are all wild about her.
But she has an awfully snubbing way."

"Is she clever?"

"Is she? That's the trouble. She won't have anything to do with a man
unless he's clever. Look at her to-night! She got her big fish right
off, and she's driven away every man who's come near her ever since.
She's the kind of a girl that, if she decides on anything, she does it."

"Who's her big fish?" said Leonore, as if she had not noticed.

"That big fellow, who is so awfully exclusive--Stirling. He doesn't
think any people good enough for him but the Pells, and Miss De Voe, and
the Ogdens. What they can see in him I can't imagine. I sat opposite him
once at dinner, this spring, at the William Pells, and he only said
three things in the whole meal. And he was sitting next that clever Miss
Winthrop."

After the fifth dance, Dorothy came up to Leonore. "It's going
beautifully," she said; "do you see how Peter has turned his back to the
room? And I heard a man say that Miss Biddle was freezing to every man
who tried to interrupt them. I must arrange some affairs this week so
that they shall have chances to see each other. You will help me?"

"I'm very much engaged for this week," said Leonore.

"What a pity! Never mind; I'll get Peter. Let me see. She rides
beautifully. Did Peter bring his horses?"

"One," said Leonore, with a suggestion of reluctance in stating the
fact.

"I'll go and arrange it at once," said Dorothy, thinking that Peter
might be getting desperate.

"Mamma," said Leonore, "how old Mrs. Rivington has grown!"

"I h