a prayer with him before I left.
And when he discovered that I played on the violin, nothing would
pacify him until I had brought it down and given him a tune.

'Ah,' he said, drawing a long breath, 'that's something like moosic,
that is. I know the right sort when I heers it. I've got a ear for
it, though I've not the hands. I plays my toones on these 'ere boots
and shoes.' And he laughed as he looked up at me through his shaggy
eyebrows.

The day came for the Forsyths' dance. I had asked Mrs. Forsyth quietly
if she would mind my keeping in my own room and not appearing at all;
but this she would not hear of, and I felt myself that it would be a
difficult thing to do. I longed to go away somewhere for a few days,
and so miss it; but my old cousin in London had gone abroad, and I had
very few old friends. So I determined to make no fuss about it, and
trusted that I should be able to escape notice in the crowd, and slip
away by myself when the dancing began. I told Nelly positively that if
I was present I would not dance. She laughed at me, and assured me I
would change my mind when the time came.

I did not realize what a large affair it would be, and I must honestly
confess as the time drew near I felt a certain pleasurable excitement
in all the preparations for it. A large marquee was put up on the
lawn, and I with the others helped in decorating and draping it inside.
A regimental band was coming, and Nelly assured me with pride,--

'Our autumn ball is the event of the year. You will see that everybody
will be here.'

And so at last the evening arrived. Both Nelly and I were in soft
white silk; and when Mrs. Forsyth came into my room to inspect my dress
before going down, she said kindly,--

'You look very nice, child. Now I hope you are going to enjoy yourself
like other girls, and not let silly scruples lead you into doing
anything that will displease General Forsyth.'

'I am not going to dance, Mrs. Forsyth,' I said, flushing as I spoke.

She left my room without replying, and then kneeling down, I asked to
be kept and guided throughout the evening. I found great comfort in
the verse, 'I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world,
but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.' And on my knees I
asked that I might not only be kept from joining in the gaiety, but
from wishing to join in it, for I felt how little I knew my own heart.
All that day I had had longings to throw mys