hallway, a prey to conflicting emotions, engendered by the new point of
view which the girl had unconsciously presented. A couplet of
Browning's was running through his mind and more than once he found
himself muttering the words:

"Oh, the little more and how much it is,
And the little less and what worlds away."

True! What worlds away she was to-night! Not that he had any sense of
social inferiority,--he was too proud of his family for that,--but
utterly alien to him and his thoughts and ideals and aspirations, she
seemed. He wondered at the foolhardiness which hitherto had
characterized his attitude toward her, and at the same time called
himself hard names for it. Why, she was unapproachable with all her
beauty and millions and methods of life! What had he been thinking
of--dreaming of? His face hardened. It was not too late to cease
playing the part of a fool and an ass. He would accomplish what he had
come there to do and then clear out, which sensible act, he trusted,
might at least serve to mitigate to some extent the opinion she must
have formulated concerning him. She had had her fun, had studied and
analyzed him as far as he intended she should. She might have her
laugh and enjoy it to the full, but she was not to have the opportunity
of laughing in his face. He went to his room, packed his bag, and then
going down the rear stairway, took it out the servants' door and laid
it under the hydrangeas near the main gate. When he returned, the
guests were beginning to come down stairs. All his inward ease had
departed. He was tense, cleared for action. All of which shows how
far the emotions of an ardent nature are apt to lead a young man
astray--as he was to learn before this ball was at an end.

In the meantime he followed the sights and sounds with no great
interest. He was vaguely amused at the remark of a woman beyond the
first bloom of youth, who, turning to her companion and nodding toward
a socially famous young matron, who preceded them down the stairs
fairly jingling with jewelry, remarked:

"I say, Jerry, Mrs. Billy has put on everything but the kitchen stove."

It confirmed in Jack's mind an impression which had begun to form, that
the smart set, so-called, is not altogether lacking in,
well,--smartness.

When the Prince entered with a ribbon and orders across his breast, the
orchestra played the Russian national anthem, whereat every one arose
and stood at attention. Jac