he passed a certain place where a dark screen hung
behind the glass, she glanced at a revolving vision of excited eyes and
glowing draperies.

The low rays of the sinking sun struck through the glass panes on the
western side of the hall and mingled with the gas, which was already
turned on, to create a sort of strange half-light in which nobody
seemed quite real. The couples swam round and round in this peculiar
radiance, while the heavy figures watching appeared to recede and grow
more dense.

The music ceased and they stood still, breathing quickly, hemmed in by
a large group of people. After a while Caroline suddenly felt a touch
on her shoulder from behind. "I say, Laura, I thought you were
not----" And she turned round sharply to see Wilson with outstretched
arm peering between heads. "Oh," he exclaimed--"so sorry! I took you
for Miss Temple. I only caught a glimpse of your dress."

"It's all right," said Caroline abruptly, crimson to the roots of her
hair. Then the music started again and she seized hold of Wilf's arm.
"Come along! We don't want to lose any of this."

Wilson was left behind among a group who were not dancing at the
moment, but gradually they moved away and he stood there alone, steady
on his feet--almost impressively self-reliant and sure of himself,
though he was neither tall nor handsome. As he stood idly looking on,
he began to notice the flame-coloured dress which had been Laura's
flashing in and out of the more sober garments. It displayed a good
deal of Caroline's figure, which was slim and clean made--something
like a Tanagra statuette, but less curved. He found himself watching
for her every time as she came round, and finally a thought darted
across his mind--a nymph on fire. Why!--he chuckled softly to himself,
pleased by the apt phrase and feeling clever--that was what it _was_,
by gad! But where on earth had she got a gown exactly like the one
which had suited Laura so badly?

When the music stopped he moved from his place and walked straight up
to Caroline. "I must apologize for having touched you on the arm, but
I only caught a glimpse of your dress through the crowd," he said, "and
at first I thought you were Miss Temple. She has a dress exactly like
the one you are wearing."

"Oh, it's all right," repeated Caroline, beginning to move off. Then
she suddenly stopped short. After all, he would get to know. She was
not going to look as if she were ashamed of