d
mistaking her for his sister, said:

"Sulking still, Trix?"

Not venturing to speak to him, lest he should discover his mistake, she
shrugged her shoulders and turned away.

"All right! sulk as long as you please. It hurts no one but yourself, my
dear," exclaimed the Captain, sauntering off.

She saw Beatrix Pendleton, in her dress, moving merrily through the
quadrille, or floating around in the waltz. She heard a gentleman near
her say:

"I thought that lady never waltzed. I know she refused me and several
others upon the plea that she never did."

And she heard the other lightly answer:

"Oh, well, ladies are privileged to change their minds."

The waltz of which they were speaking came now to an end. Sybil saw
Beatrix led to a seat near her own. She also saw her partner bow and
leave her. She seized the opportunity and glided up to Beatrix, and
whispered:

"There will be but one more quadrille, and then supper will be served. I
am going to my room. Do not dance in the next quadrille, but follow me,
that we may change our dresses again. We have to be ready to unmask at
supper, you know."

"Very well! I will be punctual. I really have enjoyed myself in your
dress. And you?"

"As much as I expected to. I am satisfied."

At this moment the music for the quadrille struck up, and gentlemen
began to select their partners. Two or three were coming towards Sybil
and Beatrix. So with a parting caution to Beatrix to be careful, Sybil
left the saloon.

She glided up to her chamber, where she was soon joined by Beatrix.

They began rapidly to take off their dresses, to exchange them.

"Oh, I have had so much amusement!" exclaimed Beatrix, laughing.
"Everybody took me for you. And oh, I have received so many flattering
compliments intended for you; and I have heard so much wholesome abuse
of myself! That I was fast; that I was eccentric; that I was more than
half-crazy; that I had a dreadful temper. And you?"

"I also received some sweet flattery intended for the pretty little
Puritan maiden, and learned some bitter truths about myself," answered
Sybil.

"How hollow your voice is, Sybil! Bosh! who cares for such
double-dealing wretches, who flatter us before our faces and abuse us
behind our backs?" exclaimed Beatrix, as she quickly finished her
Puritan toilet, and announced herself ready.

Sybil was also dressed, and they went down stairs and entered the
drawing-room together.

The last quadrille befo