been explaining the figures to her, even to
the extent of practising them in the library, where they idled away
much of the afternoon.

"You will try it with me?" Eugene pleads. "I know I can find a partner
for Miss Murray."

"No, you must take Miss Murray; some other time we will--yes, you
must," peremptorily. "She is my especial guest. I am her chaperone, you
know, and am duty bound to provide her with the best and handsomest
partner I can find."

"Do you really think so? Then for the sake of the compliment I must do
my best."

She smiles upon him, and the young man is unwillingly persuaded. Miss
Murray cannot remain forever, but Violet is a part of the present life,
and he does not mean that she shall slip out of his reach. Nothing on
his part shall crowd her out.

The rooms are lovely, the night and the music enchanting. Violet's face
grows unconsciously wistful as she listens and watches the dancers
taking their places. Eugene comes for a word.

"I hate to leave you," he declares. "Are you just going to stand and
look on?"

She waves him away to his duty, but other eyes note the reluctance.

"Are you not going to allow Mrs. Grandon to dance?" asks madame, in a
soft, half-reproachful tone. "She stands there looking like a Peri at
the gate, forbidden to enter youth's paradise."

"She is not forbidden," answers Grandon, quickly, with a nervous sense
of marital tyranny which he repudiates now and always.

"She is enough to tempt an anchorite," declares Mr. Murray, gallantly.
"I could sigh for the days of past and gone youth. Have you forsworn
such gayeties, Grandon? But I need hardly ask a man of your stamp----"

"As we have no advantages of acquiring Germans in deserts," interrupts
Floyd, with a smile.

"They are the offshoots of civilization," says Latimer, "the superior
accomplishments of the men who stay at home. With your permission, Mr.
Grandon, I will induct Mrs. Grandon into the enchanting mystery."

Floyd bows with pleased acquiescence, and conducts Latimer to his wife.
Her soft, dark eyes express her delight, and something else that he
wonders about but does not understand.

Madame executes a little manoeuvre which brings them to Miss Murray's
vicinity. The young girl nods and smiles. She is serenely happy with
her partner, the handsomest man in the room, and he has been saying
some extremely pretty things to her.

"You little match-maker," whispers Latimer. "For a first attempt it is
aud