on's countenance, so he thought--her partner fell to the ground, and
would have dragged her with him, when Ronald sprang forward and saved
her from the threatened catastrophe.

"Thank you--thank you!--oh take me to my friend!" she exclaimed, her
voice trembling with nervousness.

Ronald led her through the crowd; her partner picked himself up, and
uttering an exclamation would have followed them, had not some
acquaintance near at hand held him back, and ultimately persuaded him
quietly to retire to another room; leave the ball altogether, he would
not.

"To be cut out by a sea-monster, a porpoise, a mere nautilus--that will
never do!" he hiccupped out. "No, no--I must have my revenge on the
fellow. I'll insult him; drill a hole in him; my honour requires it.
Couldn't show my face again until I have killed my man."

The young man did not give vent to these expressions until his more
sensible acquaintance had retired; but two or three much of his own
character remained, who partly from a love of mischief, utterly
regardless of the consequences, persuaded him that he had received so
gross an insult that it could be atoned for only by mortal combat.

"We'll settle matters for you," said Lieutenant Bolton, a chum of
Maguire's. "Go back when you feel a little better; tread on his toe, or
dig your elbow into his ribs, and tell him quietly you intended to do
so. It will wonderfully facilitate our arrangements."

Meantime Morton--totally unconscious of the annoyance preparing for him,
and with the fair stranger whom he had rescued resting on his arm, was
looking for a vacant seat in which to place her.

"Who is your chaperone?" he asked. "Where do you think we can find
her?"

"Mrs Edmonstone," she answered. "Mamma was unwell, and papa could not
come till late in the evening, and so she took charge of me. She is one
of the few ladies we know well in Calcutta, and whom mamma liked to ask
to take her place. Ah, there she comes: she will, I am sure, thank you,
as I do, for saving me from so very disagreeable an accident."

"I rejoice that you escaped it," answered Morton before he looked up;
when he did so he saw approaching them the very lady with whom Glover
seemed to be so well acquainted: she now had his arm.

"That is Mrs Edmonstone," said Morton's companion. "There are two
seats; she is going to take one. I am afraid I must sit down."

Morton led her to the seat next her friend, and would have retired,
t