me for ever.

[Footnote A: Pronounced "mi-mi."]

CHAPTER IV.

THE BALL.

When Reg and Amy, accompanied by Mrs. Whyte, arrived, the ball was in
full swing. This Bachelors' Ball was an annual affair of some more than
local reputation and the suburban element was frequently enforced, and
leavened, by guests from the West End, who at other periods of the year
professed never to have heard of Brixton. The ball-room was beautifully
decorated with hangings of dainty tints. Palms and ferns, artistically
placed with fairy lamps glimmering through the masses of greenery, made
inviting corners, that attracted the weary dancers. No expense had been
spared to make the scene one of splendour and attraction, and it fairly
took good Mrs. Whyte's breath away. Reg succeeded in finding two vacant
seats near a Colonel's widow, who was an acquaintance of Mrs. Whyte
and, having comfortably settled the old lady, offered his arm to Amy and
they were soon whirling together in the mazy throng of waltzers.

They made a striking couple; the tall, handsome man and the slight,
willowy girl, with her beautiful face flushed with the exercise, and
many were the enquiries made as to who and what they were. The dance
over, Reg reserved for himself nine of the items on her card, leaving
the remainder, as he laughingly said, to her numerous admirers to fight
over. Then he left her for a moment to greet some friends.

"Miss Johnson, may I introduce a great friend of mine?" said a voice
behind her.

Amy turned to find Tommy smiling complacently at her, accompanied by a
handsome, dark stranger.

"Certainly, Mr. Thomas."

"Miss Johnson--Mr. Wyckliffe," and the two met. Amy was too full of
enjoyment to notice more than that her new acquaintance had a quiet
manner, soft attractive voice, and a peculiarly penetrating gaze. She
surrendered her programme, and, as he passed it back to her, he merely
bowed, and said:

"I have taken sixteen and eighteen, thank you."

The ball went merrily forward, both Reg and Amy enjoying themselves to
the full. At the sixteenth dance Reg found himself disengaged, and went
outside to have a smoke. He was scarcely half through his cigarette,
when the fancy seized him to go back to the ball-room and watch Amy
dancing. Standing in the doorway he marked each couple pass him, but
without discovering the object of his search. He made his way round to
Mrs. Whyte, but that good lady could only tell him that she had been