ich, with the exception of those on watch--and they
were to be relieved later on--was there, and prepared to enjoy himself
with a gusto characteristic of the British sailor-man.

The rooms, too, were by no means devoid of beauty, but by far the
loveliest woman in them was Mrs. Carr herself. She was simply dressed
in a perfectly-fitting black satin gown, looped up with diamond stars
that showed off the exquisite fairness of her skin to great
perfection. Her ornaments were also diamonds, but such diamonds--not
little flowers and birds constructed of tiny stones, but large single
gems, each the size of a hazel-nut. On her head she wore a tiara of
these, eleven stones in all, five on each side, and surmounted over
the centre of the forehead by an enormous gem as large as a small
walnut, which, standing by itself above the level of the others,
flashed and blazed like a fairy star. Around her neck, wrists, and
waist were similar points of concentrated light, that, shining against
the black satin as she moved, gave her a truly magnificent appearance.
Never before had Mildred Carr looked so perfectly lovely, for her face
and form were well worthy of the gems and dress; indeed, most of the
men there that night thought her eyes as beautiful as her diamonds.

The ball opened with a quadrille, but in this Mrs. Carr did not dance,
being employed in the reception of her guests. Then followed a waltz,
and, as its first strains struck up, several applicants came to
compete for the honour of her hand; but she declined them all, saying
that she was already engaged; and presently Arthur, looking very tall
and quite the typical young Englishman in his dress-clothes, came
hurrying up.

"You are late, Mr. Heigham," she said; "the music has begun."

"Yes; I am awfully sorry. I was dancing with Lady Florence, and could
not find her old aunt."

"Indeed, to me Mrs. Velley is pretty conspicuous, with that green
thing on her head; but come along, we are wasting time."

Putting his arm round her waist, they sailed away together amidst of
the murmurs of the disappointed applicants.

"Lucky dog," said one.

"Infernal puppy," muttered another.

Arthur enjoyed his waltz very much, for the rooms, though full, were
not crowded, and Mildred waltzed well. Still he was a little uneasy,
for he felt that, in being chosen to dance the first waltz with the
giver of this splendid entertainment over the heads of so many of his
superiors in rank and pos