nce, protestingly. "I assure you it is not in here," she continued,
following him until they were both concealed by the palms.

"A thousand pardons for my blunder," replied Duncan. "I thought I saw
you coming out of here after one of the dances with Dr. Maccanfrae."

"I see I must confess my guilt," answered Florence, smiling; "but I
relied on the protection of his grey hairs."

"I gather you don't approve of this corner," replied Duncan. "At least,"
he continued, looking around, "you were not so indiscreet as to leave
your fan here."

"I suppose the place has its uses," she answered laughingly, "at least
the managers think so, if one is to judge by the care bestowed on its
arrangement."

"If I were bold," Duncan said, as they passed out, "I would say that it
is like a fire escape, only to be used on pressing occasions."

Florence frowned at this atrocious punning, and he added, meekly: "May I
have permission to admire your gown?"

"I am surprised that you like it," she replied. "This is its second
season."

"I think it is charming," he continued. "But might I inquire if it is
ardent affection for each other which prompts you and Mrs. Sanderson to
select the same color to-night?"

"It was not a case of affection, but quite an accident," Florence
replied. "In fact, when Marion saw me coming down-stairs arrayed so like
herself, she wanted to make me change my gown, but it was so late that I
refused."

They reached the ball-room door, and there they met Roswell Sanderson
with the lost fan, which he had found in the supper-room. Duncan left
Florence with Marion's husband and went in search of his partner. He
found Marion already in her place for the cotillon and took his seat
beside her. A double row of chairs had been arranged around the room,
and poor Walter Sedger was flying about trying to make people take their
places, so that he might commence his first figure. The one occasion
when all intelligence seems to desert the average mortal,--especially if
he be a man,--is when he is called upon to dance in a cotillon, and
already the leader's difficulties had commenced. When Sedger had
succeeded in seating a group in one place, he would turn around and find
that people whom he had fairly implored to take their places were
wandering across the room, or that others, who were seated in the back
row, were having angry controversies with people who had placed their
chairs in front of them. All expected Sedger to find