the truth is I am already engaged for the first dance."

"Engaged, my daughter, engaged?" Mrs. Chapman rejoined. "Pray, who to?
It was very strange of you!" Here the young man returned to Mattie's
side.

"Allow me to introduce you to my mother, Mr. Romer," said Mattie. "Mr.
Romer, Mr. Gusher,--a friend of our family." Mrs. Chapman made a
courtesy, and the two gentlemen bowed formally and coldly.

"If I mistake not," said Mr. Romer, who was a young man of polished
manners, slender of form, with a frank, open countenance, and evidently
a gentleman, "we have met before." He kept his eyes fixed on Gusher, as
if resolved to read his thoughts in the changes that were going on in
his countenance.

"Pardon, pardon, monsieur," returned Mr. Gusher, affecting an air of
self-confidence supported by innocence. "I ne-var re-mem-bar as we has
meets before. You shall zee I shall make you my respects. We shall meet
again, I am sure of zat, zen we shall be such good friends. But I ne-var
re-mem-bar zat we meets before."

"You were living in a castle then," returned the young man, coolly, "and
I was only an outsider. People who live in castles at times don't
remember common people."

It was a strange and curious meeting. Mattie saw there was something
embarrassing between the two gentlemen, and came quickly to their
relief.

"I am Mr. Romer's partner for the first dance," she said, addressing Mr.
Gusher, with a bow. "It was very thoughtless of me. You were so very
kind. But I am sure you are too generous not to excuse me."

"It is my great misfortune, miz. But you shall zee as I ne-var intrude
myself. I shall have ze pleazure during ze evening." Gusher blushed and
withdrew to another part of the ball room, where he captured Mrs.
Topman, who was delighted at having such a partner for the first dance.
Mrs. Topman was indeed popular as a dancing lady, and nothing pleased
her better than to show her skill in the art in company with Gusher,
whom all the pretty young girls said moved so nice on his feet.

The music now struck up and fell softly and sweetly on the ear, and the
dancing began, and each figure seemed floating in the very poetry of
motion, until the bewitching scene carried the mind away captive in its
gyrations.

Mattie had never seen Mr. Romer, nor indeed heard of him before that
night. She knew nothing of the relations existing between him and
Gusher. She was equally a stranger to Mr. Gusher's antecedents. Her mind