ou are very kind," he said, slowly, "and I appreciate the honor; but
it has just occurred to me that really I am not at all certain regarding
my proficiency in that line."

Kate understood his dilemma. They had reached the hall; some one was at
the piano below and the strains of a dreamy waltz floated through the
rooms.

"I haven't a doubt of your proficiency myself," she replied, with a
confident smile, "but if you would like a test, here is a good
opportunity," and she glanced up and down the vacant but brightly
lighted corridor. Darrell needed no second hint, and almost before she
was aware they were gliding over the floor.

To Kate, intoxicated with her new-found joy, it seemed as though she
were borne along on the waves of the music without effort or volition of
her own. She dared not trust herself to speak. Once or twice she raised
her eyes to meet the dark ones whose gaze she felt upon her face, but
the love-light shining in their depths overpowered her glance and she
turned her eyes away. She knew that he had seen and recognized the
woman, and that as such--and not as a child--he loved her, and for the
present this knowledge was happiness enough.

And Darrell was silent, still bewildered by the twofold revelation which
had so suddenly come to him; the revelation of the lovely womanhood at
his side, to which he had, until now, been blind, and of the love within
his own heart, of which, till now, he had been unconscious.

Before they had completed two turns up and down the corridor the music
ceased as suddenly as it had begun.

"Oh, that was heavenly! It seemed like a dream!" Kate exclaimed, with a
sigh.

"It seemed a very blessed bit of reality to me," Darrell laughed in
return, drawing her arm within his own as they proceeded towards the
stairs.

"You are a superb dancer; now you certainly can have no scruples about
claiming some waltzes," Kate replied, withdrawing her arm and again
placing her programme in his hands.

As they paused at the head of the stairs while Darrell complied with her
request, a chorus of voices was heard in the hall below.

"Kate, are you never coming?" some one called, and a sprightly brunette
appeared for an instant on the first landing, but vanished quickly at
sight of Darrell.

"Girls!" they heard her exclaim to the merry group below; "would you
believe it? She is taking a base advantage of us; she has discovered
what we did not suppose existed in this house--a young man