an ineffectual effort to combine an air of dignified
indifference with the uncertain gait of a landsman in a heavy sea.

Desmond stood looking after him as he went in mingled pity and
contempt; but Evelyn's eyes never left her husband's face.

His smouldering anger, and the completeness of his power to protect
her by a few decisive words, thrilled her with a new, inexplicable
intensity,--an emotion that startled her a little, and in the same
breath lifted her to an unreasoning height of happiness.

Unconsciously she pressed close against him as he put his arm round
her.

"You're all safe now, my Ladybird," he said with a low laugh. "And
honour is satisfied, I suppose! The creature wasn't worth knocking
down, though I could hardly keep my fists off him at the start."

And he swept her forthwith into the heart of the many-coloured crowd.

The valse was more than half over now, and as the music slackened to
its close some two hundred couples vanished into the surrounding
dimness, each intent on their own few minutes of enjoyment. Evelyn
Desmond, flushed, silent, palpitating, remained standing at her
husband's side, till they were left practically alone under one of the
many arches that surround the great hall.

"That was much too short, wasn't it?" he said. "Now we must go and
look up Honor, and see that she is not left in the lurch."

At that she raised her eyes, and the soft shining in them lent a quite
unusual beauty to her face.

"Must we, Theo,--really? Honor's sure to be all right, and I'm so
badly wanting to sit out--with you."

"Are you, really? That's a charming confession to hear from one's
wife. You look different to-night, Ladybird. What's come to you?"

"I don't know," she murmured truthfully; adding so low that he could
barely catch the words, "Only--I don't seem ever to have
understood--till just now how much--I really care----"

"Why,--_Evelyn_!"

Sheer surprise checked further speech, and with a man's instinctive
sense of reserve he looked hastily round to make sure that they were
alone.

She misread his silence, and slipped a hand under his arm.

"You're not angry, are you--that I--didn't understand sooner?"

"Good heavens, no!"

"Then come--please come. Honor gave me the whole dance.
Besides--look!--there she goes with Major Wyndham. She's always happy
with him!"

Desmond smiled. "That's true enough. No need for us if Paul is in the
field. Come this way, Ladybird. I know the Lawre