it?" he replied, feeling very much a fool.

"Yes, certainly it was; but with such a temptation to error"--and she
smiled towards Lady Florence--"it is not wonderful that you made a
mistake, and, as you look so contrite, you shall be forgiven. Agatha,
there's a dear, just ask that man to go up to the band, and tell them
to play another waltz, 'La Berceuse,' before 'God save the Queen.'"

Arthur felt all the while, though she was talking so suavely, that she
was in a state of suppressed rage; once he glanced at her, and saw
that her eyes seemed to flash. But her anger only made her look more
lovely, supplying as it did an added dignity and charm to her sweet
features. Nor did she allow it to have full play.

Mildred felt that the crisis in her fortunes was far too serious to
admit of being trifled with. She knew how unlikely it was that she
would ever have a better chance with Arthur than she had now, for the
mirrors told her that she was looking her loveliest, which was very
lovely indeed. In addition, she was surrounded by every seductive
circumstance that could assist to compel a young man, however much
engaged, to commit himself by some act or words of folly. The sound
and sights of beauty, the rich odour of flowers, the music's
voluptuous swell, and last, but not least, the pressure of her
gracious form and the glances from her eyes, which alone were enough
to make fools of ninety-nine out of every hundred young men in Europe
--all these things combined to help her. And to them must be added her
determination, that concentrated strength of will employed to a single
end, which, if there be any truth in the theories of the action of
mind on mind, cannot fail to influence the individual on whom it is
directed.

"Now, Arthur."

The room was very nearly clear, for it was drawing towards daylight
when they floated away together. Oh! what a waltz that was! The
incarnate spirit of the dance took possession of them. She waltzed
divinely, and there was scarcely anything to check their progress. On,
on they sped with flying feet as the music rose and fell above them.
And soon things began to change for Arthur. All sense of embarrassment
and regret vanished from his mind, which now appeared to be capable of
holding but one idea of the simplest and yet the most soaring nature.
He thought that he was in heaven with Mildred Carr. On, still on; now
he saw nothing but her shell-like face and the large flash of the
circling diam