e confesses, with a long sigh, "it is rapturous! I am so fond
of dancing. I wonder, do _you_ think it frivolous?" and she glances up
with a charming deprecation.

She _is_ very pretty. It must be her dress that makes her so uncommonly
lovely to-night, he fancies, but it is all things,--her youth, her joy,
her sweet satisfaction.

"Why, no, not frivolous. It is--well, I don't know how society would
get along without it," and he gives a short, grim laugh. "We could not
have balls or parties or Germans,--nothing but dinners and teas and
musicales and stupid receptions. And there wouldn't be anything for
young people to do; the old tabbies, you know, can gossip about their
neighbors, and the men can smoke."

"It is all so wonderfully beautiful!" she begins, dreamily. "The lawn
is a perfect fairyland, and I never saw so many lovely dresses and
handsome people together in my life. And the music----"

The strains floating in the air are quite enough to bewilder one, to
steep him in delicious reveries, to transport him to Araby the blest.

"Will you waltz once with me?" he asks, suddenly, taking her hand.

"_Ought_ I?" she inquires, innocently. "You see I do not quite
understand----"

"No," he answers, "I will take a galop instead, but it is all right
enough. Floyd wouldn't care, I know."

He has a jealous misgiving that Floyd will waltz with madame if Violet
thus sets him an example.

The galop begins presently. Floyd is busy with the duties of host, and
supper is soon to be announced. Madame dances superbly, but neither of
them are up now, except that just at the last Floyd takes a few turns
with Cecil, whose time of revelry is now ended.

Eugene takes Violet in to supper; not exactly as Floyd has planned, but
as she desires. Her next neighbor is very bright and entertaining, and
Eugene really does his best. Between them both Mrs. Grandon is vivacious,
sparkling, and radiant with the charms of youth and pleasure. Eugene is
quite resolved to show madame that he has not been hard hit, and even
devotes himself awhile to Lucia Brade, who is supremely happy. There is
more dancing, and Violet and Floyd have another lovely waltz. So with
walking and talking and lounging on balcony and lawn, listening to the
delicious music, the revel comes to an end.

"You have been very happy?" Floyd Grandon says to his wife.

"It has been perfect," she makes answer. "I could ask nothing more,
nothing."

He kisses her with a little