? Nearly over now,
though," he said.

She stood still again and they both glanced up and down the long
promenade, which was fast emptying: just then a heavy cloud sailed
across the moon, obscuring everything but those islands of light near
the gas-lamps. The little coloured globes were by now more than half
blown out, while the rest flickered uncertainly, accentuating the windy
darkness. It was the last dance, and the band played very quickly.
The few couples left were mostly men and girls more or less in love
with each other who wanted to spin out the happy hours.

"Come!" said Wilson, putting his arm round Caroline's waist, on the
impulse of the moment. "Let's dance these last few bars. It is all
over."

All over---- It was curious how the words echoed in his own mind as he
circled round faster and faster. He would not be dancing with little
girls on the Thorhaven promenade any more after to-night. He would be
a married man when the next Gala took place--ranged, respected; and
though he felt a deep affection for Laura, he knew it was not on that
altar alone that he had sacrificed his freedom. His wife's fortune
would also just lift him above the dead-level where opportunities are
very few, into the region where a clever and enterprising man with
ambition is certain to find many; but he was sufficiently fond of Laura
to make the prospect of matrimony with her agreeable, though he was not
what is called a marrying man.

But a bridegroom of his type is bound to have regrets, unless in the
thrall of an engrossing passion; and to-night Wilson felt these
misgivings more acutely than he had done since his engagement--perhaps
because the loss of bachelor freedom was getting so near. Therefore
his dance with Caroline--though such a trivial matter in itself--was
not simply a dance, but a last fling: and he felt a ridiculous desire
to call out to the band to go on when he heard them stopping, so as to
prolong something in his own life which he knew to be nearly at an end.

He did not do so, of course; and the performers at once began to pack
up, thankfully looking forward to warmth and bed. Wilson and Caroline
chanced to stop dancing near the turnstile leading on to the cliff, so
they went out that way, which was near his lodgings, and equally
convenient for her to reach the Cottage. One or two couples passed out
just before them, but Caroline and Wilson were the last, and when they
stepped into the clayey grou