tonight, and expect to enjoy it
immensely. My dress is to be white tarle--Oh, dear! How horrid of me to
be writing like this to you. Please forgive me. I don't like to be so
happy when you are unhappy; but, you see, I have only just heard of
you, so it is a little difficult. With love, I remain, your affectionate
cousin, Rose Fane-Smith."

That evening, while Erica, with eyes dim with grief and weariness, was
poring over the books in her father's study, Rose was being initiated
into all the delights of the ballroom. She was in her glory. Everything
was new to her; she enjoyed dancing, she knew that she looked pretty,
knew that her dress was charming, knew that she was much admired, and
of course she liked it all. But the chaperons shook their heads; it was
whispered that Miss Fane-Smith was a terrible flirt, she had danced no
less than seven dances with Captain Golightly. If her mother erred by
thinking too much of what people said, perhaps Rose erred in exactly the
opposite way; at any rate, she managed to call down upon her silly but
innocent little head an immense amount of blame from the mothers and
elderly ladies.

"A glorious moonlight night," said Captain Golightly. "What do you say,
Miss Fane-Smith? Shall we take a turn in the garden? Or are you afraid
of the cold?"

"Afraid! Oh, dear no," said Rose; "it's the very thing I should enjoy. I
suppose I must get my shawl, though; it is upstairs."

They were in the vestibule.

"Have my ulster," said Captain Golightly. "Here it is, just handy, and
it will keep you much warmer."

Rose laughed and blushed, and allowed herself to be put into her
partner's coat, rather to the detriment of her billowy tarletan. After
a while they came back again from the dim garden to the brightly lighted
vestibule, and as ill luck would have it, chanced to encounter a stream
of people going into the supper room. Every one stared at the apparition
of Miss Fane-Smith in Captain Golightly's coat. With some difficulty
she struggled out of it, and with very hot cheeks sought shelter in the
ballroom.

"How dreadfully they looked! Do you think it was wrong of me?" she half
whispered to her partner.

"Oh, dear, no! Sensible and plucky, and everything delightful! You are
much too charming to be bound down to silly conventionalities. Come, let
us have this dance. I'm sure you are engaged to some one in the supper
room who can't deserve such a delightful partner. Let us have this TROIS
TEM