the knee, leaving his silk
stockings and shoes conspicuous. No reproach could be cast on the
purity of his white neckcloth, nor on the general cleanliness of his
person. His greeting of the host and hostess, though a little old-
fashioned, was thoroughly easy and courteous, after which he begged them
to leave him to himself, and to give their undivided attention to the
young, whose special evening it was. Curiosity once gratified, the
suspended buzz of eager talk broke out again, and allowed Mr Tankardew
to make his way to Mrs Franklin and her daughter. These he saluted
very heartily, and added, "Let an old man sit by you awhile, and watch
the proceedings of the young people, and realise if he possibly can that
he was once young himself--ah yes! Once young," and he sighed deeply.

Fun and frolic were soon at their height. Merry music struck up, and
the larger of the two drawing-rooms was cleared for a dance. Mark
hurried up to Mary. "Come, Mary," he cried, "I want you for a partner;
we shall have capital fun; come along."

"Thank you," she replied; "I prefer to watch the others--at present, at
any rate."

"Oh! Nonsense! You _must_ come, there'll be no fun without you; it's
very hot though, but there'll be lots of negus presently."

"Mary will do her part by trying to amuse some of the very little ones,"
said her mother; "I think that will be more to her taste."

"Oh! Yes, dear mamma, that it will. Thank you, Mark, all the same."

"Good, very good, very good," cried Mr Tankardew, in a low voice, and
beating one hand gently on the other; "keep to that, my child, keep to
that."

Mark retired with a very bad grace, and Mary, slipping away from her
mother's side, gathered a company around her of the tinier sort, with
glowing cheeks and very wide eyes, who were rather scared by the more
boisterous proceedings of those somewhat older; she amused them in a
quiet way, raising many a little happy laugh, and fairly winning their
hearts.

"God bless her," muttered Mr Tankardew, when he had watched her for
some time very attentively; "very good, that will do, very good indeed;
keep her to it, Mrs Franklin, keep her to it."

"She's a dear, good child," said her mother.

"Very true, madam; yes, dear and good; some are dear and bad--dear at
any price. I see some now."

Wine and negus were soon handed round; the tray was presented to Mary.
Mr Tankardew lent forward and bent a piercing look at her. She
decline