ut so it is in this world! One man may kiss this
waxwork, while another isn't permitted to lay a finger on it. Now, are
we going to the Maltbys' dance, or have you decided to remain here and
spoon? And hasn't any one a word of approval for this figure? Between
you and me, Drake, I rather fancy myself to-night. I do hope I shan't
break any young thing's heart, for I'm not--I really am not--a marrying
man. Seen too much of the preliminary business with other people, you
know."

They got into the fly, laughing, and Drake, as they drove along,
compared this departure for a simple country dance with his past
experiences. How seldom had he gone to a big London crush without
wishing that he could stay at home and smoke or read!

"Remember," he whispered to Nell, as they alighted at the Grange, "your
first dance and as many as you can give me!"

One or two other carriages set down at the same time, and they entered
the hall, a portion of a small crowd, so that Lady Maltby, a buxom,
smiling lady of the good old type of the country baronet's wife, had
only time to murmur a few words; and Drake passed on with Nell on his
arm.

As they went up the room, a dance started, and he drew Nell aside, and
standing by her, looked round curiously and a trifle apprehensively. But
there was no person whom he knew, and Sir William, who came up to them,
had even got Drake's name wrongly.

"Glad to see you, Miss Lorton. Dear, dear! how the young ones do grow!
Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Verney Blake, and to congratulate
you. I think I've met a relative of yours--an uncle, I fancy----"

Drake's face grew expressionless in an instant.

--"Sir Richard--or--was it Sir Joseph--Blake? He took the first for
shorthorns in seventy-eight."

Drake drew a sigh of relief.

"No relation of mine, Sir William, I regret," he said.

"No? Same name, too. Funny! But there are a good many Blakes. So you're
going to run off with the belle of Shorne Mills, eh? Lucky fellow!"

With a chuckle he ambled off to his wife, to be sent to some one else,
and Drake bent to Nell.

"Come!" was all he said, and he put his arm round her. The floor was
good, the band from the garrison town knew its business, and Nell----Was
he surprised that she should dance so well? Was not every ordinary
movement of hers graceful? But the fact that she could dance like an
angel, as he put it to himself, did not make his love for her any the
less or his pride in her diminish,