pointed
Baby.

But Mary Beresford's comment was more odd still. She glanced at her
mother, and laughed. 'Mother, he didn't even once mention Nan's name.'

CHAPTER III.

A FIRST BALL.

Nevertheless, Lieutenant King was quite as well acquainted with Nan
Beresford as he was with the other members of the family--and this was
how he came to know her. The Beresfords had for many years been the
intimate friends of the Strathernes; and though they saw less of each
other since Lady Beresford, on becoming a widow, had gone to live
permanently in Brighton, still the London season brought them in a
measure together again. Lady Beresford took rooms in Bruton Street
during the fashionable months of the year for herself and her grown-up
daughters; and from time to time, and as a great treat, Nan was allowed
to come up for a few days from Brighton. On these rare occasions, if
Sir George heard of the Beautiful Wretch being in town, nothing would
do but that she should come with her mother and sisters to lunch in
Spring Gardens--he being at this time Senior Naval Lord. And Nan was
rejoiced. She was not at all a foolish young virgin; she was well
aware of the affection the old Admiral had for her; and while she
heartily reciprocated it, she knew that his special patronage of her
gave her a sort of distinction among her sisters.

Well, one of these opportunities arrived, and Nan, not a little elated,
but outwardly very demure, drove away with her mother and sisters, in a
hired brougham, to New Street. In due course they arrived at their
destination, and they had just got inside the door when, as chance
would have it, Sir George himself came from the dining-room into the
hall. He was a wiry-looking, handsome, elderly man, with grizzled
hair, a firm face, and the kindliest of gray eyes; while on this
occasion he was very gorgeously attired, for he had already dressed for
a Levee, and, moreover, it was a Collar Day. It was extraordinary to
see how naturally Nan went up to him, taking it for granted he would
scarcely have a word for anybody else. And he hadn't. Of course he
shook hands with Lady Beresford and Mary and Edith, and welcomed them
in a kind of way; but it was Nan that he seized with both hands; and it
was Nan that he himself escorted upstairs to the drawing-room; and it
was Nan that he presented to Lady Stratherne, just as if there was
nobody else in the world. Lady Stratherne, though she was also a
miracl