there;
it's raised a few inches, you know; and I think you could see.'

'Oh! I should like that!' she said. How grateful she was to him!

They made their way to this side recess, which had been built out,
temporarily, from the drawing-room, for the sake of additional space.
It was decorated with trailing-plants, trained on trellis-work; and two
or three circles of red candles, amid so much green foliage, had a
pretty effect. There were a few people standing about and looking on
at the dancing, or talking; it was possible to talk, for here the music
was softened.

Nan's companion led her to a raised bench, from which she could see
very well; but even as she sat down, and while she was so glad to have
been relieved from dancing out there amid all those people, she was
touched by some strange misgivings. It was her duty to have danced.
She had been presented with a partner; and if only she had not shown
herself reluctant, she knew very well he could have found places for
them. Were not officers always fond of dancing? And then it suddenly
occurred to her that she ought to try to make him some amends. She
ought to entertain him with brilliant conversation, as it were.
Meanwhile, what was he doing? Not thinking of her--except as a booby,
a child who could not talk. No doubt he was looking out at all those
beautiful women there, and wishing he was not imprisoned in this corner.

Nan timidly raised her eyes, and instantly dropped them again. He had
been for the moment looking at the forget-me-nots in her hair.

CHAPTER IV.

THE SAME.

Nan was growing desperate. Speak she must, if only to let him know
that she was sensible of his kindness in affording her this blissful
relief; for she believed it was entirely on her account that he had
proposed to sit out the dance. So she said, wildly,

'You go to a great many balls, I suppose?'

'Oh, dear no,' he said. 'I am not much ashore.'

Of course. She might have known. Was there not an air of command
about him, young as he was? No doubt he held far too important a
position to waste time on idle entertainments.

'I mean earlier--as a midshipman,' she stammered. 'You must have been
to many places, and--and--I thought the life of a midshipman was
nothing but parties and balls, along with a great deal of mischief.
That is what one reads, you know, about the young gentlemen--always
tumbling into trouble, and always getting happily out of it, and always