How much that young lady giggled!  How badly she danced—­with what rapture she threw up her round eyes at her partner’s dark face, this chronicle need not record; so naive was she, into such ecstasies did every word spoken by the captain throw her, that he quite feared for the result.

“It is awful when a girl falls in love in five minutes!” he mentally soliloquized.  “I wonder if I have satisfied Miss Meadowsweet now?  I do honestly think I have done my duty by Miss Matty Bell.”

So he conveyed the gushing young person back to her sisters, and sought for Beatrice who was once more frank and friendly, but gave him excellent reasons for not dancing with him.

At this moment Catherine came up and touched her brother.  Her cheeks had a bright color in them, she looked animated and happy.

“Loftus, it is close on twelve o’clock.  We must go home.  Look at Mabel,” she added, seeing her brother hesitate, “she is frightfully sleepy.  Mother never allows her to be up so late.  We have had a happy evening,” continued Catherine, looking full into Miss Meadowsweet’s face, “and we are very much obliged to you.  Now I must go and say good-night to your mother.”

She tripped away, and Beatrice looked after her with affectionate eyes.

“It is unkind of you not to give me one dance,” said the captain.

She had forgotten his presence.

“It is not unkind,” she said.  “The dancing is altogether an impromptu affair, and I had to attend to my guests.  I was talking to your sister, Catherine, who did not care to dance.”

“Very ungenerous to me,” pursued the captain.  “A poor return for all my efforts to please you.”

“Your efforts—­pray, what efforts?”

“Did you not observe me with your friend, Miss Matty Bell?  I assure you she and I are now excellent friends.”

“I do not suppose in my mother’s house you would be anything else, Captain Bertram.”

Her tone irritated the captain.  His manner changed.

“Do you think I wanted to dance with her?”

“I don’t think about it.  Here is your sister.  I will help you to find your wraps, Catherine.”

She linked her hand through Catherine Bertram’s arm, and went with her into the hall.  A few moments later the brother and sisters were walking quickly home.

“So you have come to Christian names already, Catherine,” said Loftus.

“Yes,” replied Catherine.  “She is the very dearest girl.  Have we not had a delightful evening?”

“Delightful, truly.  How did you enjoy yourself, Mab?”

“Middling,” replied Mabel.  “I was with Mr. Jones, and he talked about vestments, and deplored the Rector’s decision against High Church practices.  He thought we were kindred souls, but we weren’t, and I told him so.  Then he turned crusty.  I waltzed twice with Mr. Bell, and he kicked my ankle, and hurt me very much.  I don’t think I cared much for the party, Catherine, the people were so queer.”