rl. "But she is very beautiful,
I am told; though I find it hard to believe that she can be lovelier
than she is," and she nodded in Nell's direction.

Drake felt very friendly toward the girl.

"She is as good as she is beautiful," he said; then, as the triteness
and significance of the words struck him, he laughed slightly.

His partner glanced up at him shyly.

"Oh--I beg your pardon!" she said. "I didn't know. How--how proud you
must be!"

"I am," said Drake.

"And of course you want to be dancing with her now? If I were you I
should hate to have to dance with any one else. I wish--you would
introduce me to her after this waltz!"

"With pleasure!" said Drake, wondering what on earth the girl's name
was--for, of course, he had not caught it.

But the introduction was not made, for her next partner came up
immediately the dance was finished and bore her off; and Drake leaned
against the wall and watched Nell.

She was dancing with a subaltern from the garrison town, and was
evidently enjoying herself. It was a pleasure to him to look at her; and
it occurred to him that even if the bright little American, with the
pleasant voice and tender heart, had not stepped in to ruin his
prospects; if the title and estates were as near to him as they had been
a few months ago; if he were moving in London society, in his own
critical and exclusive set, he would not have made any mistake in asking
Nell to be his wife. She would have justified his choice in any society,
however high.

It occurred to him that where they were going on the Continent he might,
perhaps, procure a little amusement for her; there might be a dance or
two at the hotels at which they would stay; or he might take her to one
of the big state balls for which there would be no difficulty in
obtaining an invitation.

Yes, he thought as he watched her--her lips half parted with a smile of
intense enjoyment, her eyes shining with the light of youth and
ignorance of care--she should have a happy time of it or he would know
the reason why; he would simply devote his life to watching over her, to
screening her from every worry, to----

"Are you staying in the house, Mr. Blake?"

It was Sir William who had toddled up and addressed the reflective
guest. Sir William never knew exactly how the house party was composed;
and sometimes a man had been staying at the Grange for a fortnight
without Sir William comprehending that the man was sleeping beneath his