t be so rude.... Oh, goodness!
here they come, hordes of them. I'll give them a dance or two--anybody
who speaks first, and then you'll come and find me, won't you?... Isn't
that enough to give them--two or three dances? Isn't that doing my duty
as chatelaine sufficiently?"

"Don't give them any," he said with conviction. "They'll know we're
engaged if you don't----"

"Oh, Duane! We are only--only provisionally engaged," she said. "I am
only on probation, dear. You know it can't be announced until I--I'm fit
to marry you----"

"What nonsense!" he interrupted, almost savagely. "You're winning out;
and even if you are not, I'll marry you, anyway, and make you win!"

"We have talked that over----"

"Yes, and it is settled!"

"No, Duane----"

"I tell you it is!"

"No. Hush! Somebody might overhear us. Quick, dear, here comes Bunny and
Reggie Wye and Peter Tappan, all mad as hatters. I've behaved abominably
to them! Will you find me after the third dance? Very well; tell me you
love me then--whisper it, quick!... Ah-h! Moi aussi, Monsieur. And,
remember, after the third dance!"

She turned slowly from him to confront an aggrieved group of masked
young men, who came up very much hurt, clamouring for justice,
explaining volubly that it was up to her to keep her engagements and
dance with somebody besides Duane Mallett.

"Mon Dieu, Messieurs, je ne demanderais pas mieux," she said gaily. "Why
didn't somebody ask me before?"

"You promised us each a dance," retorted Tappan sulkily, "but you never
made good. I'll take mine now if you don't mind----"

"I'm down first!" insisted the Pink 'un.

They squabbled over her furiously; Bunbury Gray got her; she swung away
into a waltz on his arm, glancing backward at Duane, who watched her
until she disappeared in the whirl of dancers. Then he strolled to the
edge of the lantern-lit glade, stood for a moment looking absently at
the shadowy woods beyond, and presently sauntered into the luminous
dusk, which became darker and more opaque as he left the glare of the
glade behind.

Here and there fantastic figures loomed, moving slowly, two and two,
under the fairy foliage; on the Gray Water canoes strung with gaudy
paper lanterns drifted; clouds of red fire rolled rosy and vaporous
along the water's edge; and in the infernal glow, hazy shapes passed and
repassed, finding places among scores of rustic tables, where servants
in old-time livery and powdered wigs hurried to and