the one I _did_ promise is that
little dapper chap there in the window. He's been waiting on and off
since eight o'clock. Never you mind; you hang about here, and I'll work
it if I-- Hullo! here's another one! I didn't promise you, did I? All
right, old chappie. You lean up there against the wall, and I'll
engineer it for you somehow. She's owing me a dance about eight down
the list. You can have a quarter of it, if you like, and the other two
chaps can go halves in the rest."

With which the unprincipled youth absconded into the supper-room.

"And who is that talking to your charming cousin?" asked a dowager who
had succeeded in capturing Roger for five minutes in a corner.

"Oh, that's my tutor, Armstrong--the best fellow in the world."

"Evidently a great admirer of Miss Oliphant. No doubt the attraction is
mutual?"

Roger laughed, and speculated on Armstrong's horror were he to hear of
such a suggestion.

"And that gentleman talking to Captain Oliphant? What relation is he?"

"He? None at all. He's a Mr Ratman, an Indian friend of my
guardian's."

"Dear me! I quite thought he was an Ingleton by his face--but I'm glad
he is not; I dislike his appearance. Besides, he has already had more
than is good for him."

"He's no great favourite," said Roger shortly.

Presently Captain Oliphant and his companion stepped up to where
Rosalind and her partner stood.

"Mr Armstrong," said the former, "will you kindly see that the band
gets supper after the next dance?"

The words were spoken politely, and Mr Armstrong, although he knew that
the speaker's solicitude on behalf of the band was by no means as great
as his desire to see the tutor's back, felt he could hardly refuse.

"Rosalind," said the Captain, looking significantly at his daughter,
"Mr Ratman desires the pleasure of a dance, and will take you into the
next room."

Rosalind tossed her head and flushed.

"Thank you; I am tired," said she. "I prefer not to dance at present."

"You are keeping Mr Ratman waiting, my dear."

The colour died out of the girl's face as, with a little shiver, she
laid the tips of her fingers on her partner's arm.

"That's right," said that genial individual. "Do as you are told. You
don't fancy it; but pa's word is law, isn't it?"

She said nothing, but the colour shot back ominously into her cheeks.

"And so you've run off and left us," pursued her partner, who rather
enjoyed the situation, and was va