to feel the rush of the wings of Night upon his
temples, to mark the untroubled slumber of the country-side, gaze at
the velvet dome fretted with silver. Moreover, he was almost dreading
the dance. Had he not given his word a week ago, he would--speaking
vulgarly--have stuck his toes in and seen his companions to the edge of
the pit before he followed them into the mansion.

For a mansion it was.

Though the night was moonless, Anthony could see that. That it was a
beautiful specimen of a "Queen Anne" residence he could not perceive.
Indeed, almost before the car had been berthed close to the shadowy
elegance of a tremendous cedar, the front door was opened, and a great
shaft of light streamed out into the darkness.

The guests passed in.

The monstrous deference of the footman who received Anthony's coat and
hat gave a disconcerting fillip to the latter's uneasiness. As a
respectful butler preceded the party upstairs, he felt as if he were
being conducted to a scaffold.

"Captain and Mrs. Alison, Miss Alison, Major Lyveden."

Anthony braced himself.

The next moment--

"How d'ye do?" said Valerie, with a quiet smile. "I'm so glad you
could come. How's Patch?"

With a whirling brain, Anthony tried to say that Patch was very well.

"Let me introduce you to my aunt," said Valerie, turning to a lady whom
Anthony seemed to have seen before. "Aunt Harriet, this is Major
Lyveden--Lady Touchstone."

Anthony bowed dazedly.

"You were very good to Valerie," said the lady, "a little while ago.
I've heard about it. And how do you like service? I always said that,
if my father had put his money into railways instead of ships, I should
have become a cook-housekeeper."

"It all depends," said Anthony, "on whose service you're in. I like
yours very much."

Lady Touchstone laughed.

"You'd make a good equerry," she said. Then she turned to glance down
the gallery. "You must meet Mrs. Pleydell," she added. "Ah, there she
is. Come." They stepped to the side of a tall dark girl with a most
attractive smile. "Daphne, my dear, this is Major Lyveden--from The
Shrubbery. Amuse him, and he'll flatter you. You see." The tall fair
man who had been sitting with Mrs. Pleydell offered Lady Touchstone his
arm. She put it aside with a frown. "I'm not so old as all that,
Jonah," she said. "You may take me to the hearth, if you please, but
not like a grandmother."

With a crash an alcove belched music, and i