LLMENT.

CHAPTER V.

THE BALLROOM.

WHILE the consultation at Doctor Lagarde's was still fresh in the memory
of the persons present at it, Chance or Destiny, occupied in sowing
the seeds for the harvest of the future, discovered as one of its fit
instruments a retired military officer named Major Mulvany.

The Major was a smart little man, who persisted in setting up the
appearance of youth as a means of hiding the reality of fifty. Being
still a bachelor, and being always ready to make himself agreeable, he
was generally popular in the society of women. In the ballroom he was a
really welcome addition to the company. The German waltz had then been
imported into England little more than three years since. The outcry
raised against the dance, by persons ski lled in the discovery of latent
impropriety, had not yet lost its influence in certain quarters. Men who
could waltz were scarce. The Major had successfully grappled with the
difficulties of learning the dance in mature life; and the young ladies
rewarded him nobly for the effort. That is to say, they took the
assumption of youth for granted in the palpable presence of fifty.

Knowing everybody and being welcome everywhere, playing a good hand at
whist, and having an inexhaustible fancy in the invention of a dinner,
Major Mulvany naturally belonged to all the best clubs of his time.
Percy Linwood and he constantly met in the billiard-room or at
the dinner-table. The Major approved of the easy, handsome,
pleasant-tempered young man. "I have lost the first freshness of youth,"
he used to say, with pathetic resignation, "and I see myself revived, as
it were, in Percy. Naturally I like Percy."

About three weeks after the memorable evening at Doctor Lagarde's, the
two friends encountered each other on the steps of a club.

"Have you got anything to do to-night?" asked the Major.

"Nothing that I know of," said Percy, "unless I go to the theater."

"Let the theater wait, my boy. My old regiment gives a ball at Woolwich
to-night. I have got a ticket to spare; and I know several sweet girls
who are going. Some of them waltz, Percy! Gather your rosebuds while you
may. Come with me."

The invitation was accepted as readily as it was given. The Major found
the carriage, and Percy paid for the post-horses. They entered the
ballroom among the earlier guests; and the first person whom they met,
waiting near the door, was--Captain Bervie.

Percy bowed a little uneasi