ght is looking at us."

And we were introduced to our hostess at last, who received us in a manner
expressive of our social insignificance. "Dear me!" said she placidly,
"have you just come in? You're very late. I supposed everybody was here
long ago. Georgy asked my permission to invite some students: I never do
that sort of thing myself. There is really no end to it, you know.
Besides, I suppose your time is quite taken up with your studies and your
boating and your flirtations. Do you dance?--There's Georgy Lenox
beckoning to you, Mr. Dart." Harry darted off, and was lost in the crowd
before I had a chance to follow him with my eyes, for Mrs. Dwight, feeling
the need of support or wishing to be guided into another room, had put her
arm within mine, thus compelling my attention. Her conversation still
continued in a steady stream. It had occurred to her that I was in some
way connected with Mr. Floyd, whose reputation was national, and she went
on reviving reminiscences of him while we strolled about. She addressed me
with such unhesitating talkativeness that I succumbed at once, and became
an easy prey. What she said was quite uninteresting, besides being
rambling in a degree which hindered my getting the smallest idea of her
meaning; but her own enjoyment of her loquaciousness never once faltered,
and she discoursed as fluently as an eighteenth-century poet, and without
any more idea of the grace of finishing within a reasonable time. How I
envied Thorpe's easy method of withdrawing from her attack! how I longed
for some flank movement to draw off her attention! I was weaving futile
plans of escape, when suddenly a radiant creature in blue and white gauze,
the swirl of whose long skirts I had watched as I listened to Mrs. Dwight,
paused in the waltz close beside me, turned, looked me in the face and
patted my arm with her fan. "Floyd!" she cried, "Floyd Randolph! don't you
know me?"

Mrs. Dwight vanished, I do not remember how or where. Everybody vanished:
I seemed to be alone in the world staring into Georgy Lenox's face.

"Cousin Maria had fastened upon you like the Ancient Mariner," prattled
Georgy, laughing. "That is her way. If she fancies a young man, she bears
down upon him, and with one fell swoop carries him off. How melancholy you
looked! But you are as grave as ever now. Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Oh yes, I am glad," I told her, but felt a weight upon my tongue, and
could not find expression for any