acious youth;
while Mr. Kelly, behind, feels as if he was going to sink into the
ground.

"You don't understand what the word means, you silly boy," says the
widow, laughing gayly.

"Don't I! I only wish I might parse and _spell_ it with you," says
Ronayne, his spirits rising; at which answer, I regret to say, pretty
Mrs. Bohun laughs again merrily, and suffers him to lead her away into
the dancing-circle without a rebuke, leaving Mr. Kelly limp with fear of
discovery.

Now, his imprisonment being at an end, he leaves his corner, and,
braving the anger of the dancing people, walks straight through their
midst to the door beyond, ready to endure anything rather than the
eavesdropping, however innocent, of a moment past.

Filled therefore with courage, he sallies forth, and on the landing
outside encounters the two Misses Blake clothed for departure, with
Monica and Kit beside them. Terence is still bidding adieu to Miss
Fitzgerald whose tall charms have worked a way into his youthful
affections.

Desmond is standing at a little distance from this group; Mr. Ryde is in
the midst of it. He is expostulating with Monica about the cruelty of
her early departure, in a tone that savors of tenderness and rouses in
Mr. Desmond's breast a hearty desire to kick him. Then Mr. Ryde carries
on his expostulations to where Aunt Priscilla is standing; and Brian
tries vainly to gain a last glance from Monica, if only to see whether
the treaty of peace between them--interrupted a while ago--has been
really signed or not.

But Monica, either through wilfulness or ignorance of his near locality,
or perhaps fear of Miss Priscilla, refuses to meet his longing eyes. For
my part, I believe in the wilfulness.

Kit, who is always like the cockles of ancient fame, "_alive O_," sees
his disconsolate face, his earnest, unrequited glance, and Monica's
assumed or real indifference, and feels sad at heart for him.
Deliberately, and with a sweet, grave smile, she holds out to him her
small hand, and, regardless of consequences, gives his a hearty squeeze.
Most thankfully he acknowledges this courtesy; whereupon, of her still
further charity, she bestows upon him a glance from her dark eyes that
speaks volumes and assures him he has in her a friend at court.

Then all is over. The two Misses Blake go slowly and with caution down
the steep staircase, Monica and Mr. Ryde (who grows more devoted every
minute) following, Terence and Kit bringing up