, with a smile. "I am
thoroughly happy, and am looking forward to the ball with delight."

Lord Earle smiled half sadly as he gazed at her bright face, wondering
whether, in years to come, it would be clouded or shadowed.

"Will you dance, papa?" asked Beatrice, with a gleam of mischief in her
dark eyes.

"I think not," he replied; and Ronald Earle's thoughts went back to the
last time he had ever danced--with Valentine Charteris. He remembered
it well. Ah, no! All those pleasant, happy days were over for him.

Chapter XXIX

The dinner party was over, and carriage after carriage rolled up to the
Hall; the rooms began to fill; there was a faint sound of music, a
murmur of conversation and laughter.

"You have not forgotten your promise to me, Miss Earle?" said Lord
Airlie. "I am to have the first dance and the last, certainly, and as
many more as you can spare."

"I have not forgotten," replied Beatrice. She was never quite at her
ease with him, although she loved him better than any one else on
earth. There was ever present with her the consciousness that she did
so love him, and the wonder whether he cared for her.

They opened the ball, and many significant comments were made upon the
fact. Gaspar Laurence was present. He was deeply engaged for more
than two hours in making up his mind whether he should ask Beatrice to
dance with him or not--she looked so beautiful, so far above him.
Gaspar could not help loving her--that was impossible; the first moment
he saw her he was entranced. But his was a humble, hopeless kind of
adoration. He would sooner have dreamed of wooing and winning a royal
princess than of ever asking Beatrice to be his wife.

At length he summoned up courage, and was rewarded by a bright smile
and kind words. Poor Gaspar! When the beautiful face was near him,
and her hand rested on his shoulder, he thought he must be dreaming.

"There," he said, when the dance was over; "I shall not dance again. I
should not like to lose the memory of that waltz."

"Why not?" she asked, wonderingly.

"I must be candid with you," said Gaspar, sadly. "Perhaps my
confession is a vain one; but I love you, Miss Earle--so dearly that
the ground on which you stand is sacred to me."

"That is not a very timid declaration," said Beatrice with a smile.
"You are courageous, Mr. Laurence. I have only seen you three times."

"It would make no difference," said Gaspar, "whether I had seen you
onl