flatness about the dancing of all those who considered themselves above the plebeian ranks of the tradespeople.  They, however, enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and sprang and pounded till their eyes sparkled and their cheeks glowed with exercise and excitement.  Some of the more prudent parents, mindful of the next day’s duties, began to consider at what hour they ought to go home; but with all there was an expressed or unexpressed curiosity to see the duchess and her diamonds; for the Menteith diamonds were famous in higher circles than that now assembled; and their fame had trickled down to it through the medium of ladies’-maids and housekeepers.  Mr. Gibson had had to leave the ball-room for a time, as he had anticipated, but he was to return to his wife as soon as his duties were accomplished; and, in his absence, Mrs. Gibson kept herself a little aloof from the Miss Brownings and those of her acquaintance who would willingly have entered into conversation with her, with the view of attaching herself to the skirts of the Towers’ party, when they should make their appearance.  If Cynthia would not be so very ready in engaging herself to every possible partner who asked her to dance, there were sure to be young men staying at the Towers who would be on the look-out for pretty girls:  and who could tell to what a dance would lead?  Molly, too, though a less good dancer than Cynthia, and, from her timidity, less graceful and easy, was becoming engaged pretty deeply; and, it must be confessed, she was longing to dance every dance, no matter with whom.  Even she might not be available for the more aristocratic partners Mrs. Gibson anticipated.  She was feeling very much annoyed with the whole proceedings of the evening when she was aware of some one standing by her; and, turning a little to one side, she saw Mr. Preston keeping guard, as it were, over the seats which Molly and Cynthia had just quitted.  He was looking so black that, if their eyes had not met, Mrs. Gibson would have preferred not speaking to him; as it was, she thought it unavoidable.

‘The rooms are not well-lighted to-night, are they, Mr. Preston?’

‘No,’ said he; ’but who could light such dingy old paint as this, loaded with evergreens, too, which always darken a room.’

’And the company, too!  I always think that freshness and brilliancy of dress go as far as anything to brighten up a room.  Look what a set of people are here:  the greater part of the women are dressed in dark silks, really only fit for a morning.  The place will be quite different, by-and-by, when the county families are in a little more force.’

Mr. Preston made no reply.  He had put his glass in his eye, apparently for the purpose of watching the dancers.  If its exact direction could have been ascertained, it would have been found that he was looking intently and angrily at a flying figure in pink muslin:  many a one was gazing at Cynthia with intentness besides himself, but no one in anger.  Mrs. Gibson was not so fine an observer as to read all this; but here was a gentlemanly and handsome young man, to whom she could prattle, instead of either joining herself on to objectionable people, or sitting all forlorn until the Towers’ party came.  So she went on with her small remarks.