k noticed, however, that attention ceased
and almost every one sat down during the rendering of "The Star
Spangled Banner," which followed. This, he decided, might have been
because no one heard it in the confusion of voices which attended the
closing strains of the Russian hymn and Koltsoff's course about the
room. Armitage particularly looked for Anne and located her at the
Prince's side, the centre of a vivacious group. Evidently the
orchestra might as well have been playing a selection from "Madame
Butterfly," so far as she was concerned. This did n't help his mood
and after waiting for the first dance, a quadrille in which even the
elderly participated--it was given so they might--he sauntered out on
the veranda and stood there gazing vacantly at the glowing _parterre_
and smoking a cigarette.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE BALL CONTINUES

Groups were strolling in and out among the gardens. Armitage caught
the pale flashes of fans and gowns; the cigarette lights of the men
glowed among the shrubbery like fireflies. The moon was full, shining
through rifted clouds, and the ocean, murmuring at the foot of the
cliffs, stretched away to the starry horizon. The lamps of the
Brenton's Reef light vessel seemed close enough to touch, and farther
out the lights of a deep sea tug with a string of coal barges astern
moved slowly down the coast.

As Jack threw away his cigarette preparatory to going into the house,
Anne Wellington stepped through the door, laughing back at Koltsoff,
who was following her. Jack averted his head and as he did so the girl
turned to her companion.

"Pardon me for one second," she said.

"Are n't you going to ask me to dance?" she said in a low voice as she
confronted Armitage.

He smiled. "Oh, certainly!"

"Oh, there is precedent," laughed Anne. "Was n't it Dick Turpin who
danced with the Duchess of--of something, once?"

"But he was hanged later."

"Not for that." She stood for a moment regarding him and decided that
no man at the ball was better to look at in any way. "I am a good
American to-night," she said slowly. "I--I thought you might be
interested to know."

"I am interested," said Jack. Then his eyes lighted. "Are you serious
about that dance?"

She returned his gaze, humorously defiant.

"I don't care, if you don't," he added; "I dare you."

"They say naval officers are divine dancers," she replied as though to
herself. "You may have the next dance if--if