his guests that
he will leave me standing alone, like a neglected fool, for any passing
whim of his. Explain! His explanation would sound well! Do you know for
whom he caught that moth? It is being sent to a girl he flirted with all
last summer. It has just occurred to me that the dress I am wearing is
her suggestion. Let him try to explain!"

Speech unloosed the fountain. She stripped off her gloves to free her
hands. At that instant the dancers parted to admit Philip. Instinctively
they stopped as they approached and with wondering faces walled in Edith
and Philip, Polly and Tom.

"Mighty good of you to wait!" cried Philip, his face showing his delight
over his success in capturing the Yellow Emperor. "I thought when I
heard the music you were going on."

"How did you think I was going on?" demanded Edith Carr in frigid tones.

"I thought you would step aside and wait a few seconds for me, or dance
with Henderson. It was most important to have that moth. It completes a
valuable collection for a person who needs the money. Come!"

He held out his arms.

"I 'step aside' for no one!" stormed Edith Carr. "I await no other
girl's pleasure! You may 'complete the collection' with that!"

She drew her engagement ring from her finger and reached to place it
on one of Philip's outstretched hands. He saw and drew back. Instantly
Edith dropped the ring. As it fell, almost instinctively Philip caught
it in air. With amazed face he looked closely at Edith Carr. Her
distorted features were scarcely recognizable. He held the ring toward
her.

"Edith, for the love of mercy, wait until I can explain," he begged.
"Put on your ring and let me tell you how it is."

"I know perfectly 'how it is,'" she answered. "I never shall wear that
ring again."

"You won't even hear what I have to say? You won't take back your ring?"
he cried.

"Never! Your conduct is infamous!"

"Come to think of it," said Philip deliberately, "it is 'infamous' to
cut a girl, who has danced all her life, out of a few measures of a
waltz. As for asking forgiveness for so black a sin as picking up a
moth, and starting it to a friend who lives by collecting them, I don't
see how I could! I have not been gone three minutes by the clock, Edith.
Put on your ring and finish the dance like a dear girl."

He thrust the glittering ruby into her fingers and again held out his
arms. She dropped the ring, and it rolled some distance from them. Hart
Henderson follo