Rose began to play. Her touch was fine, and her performance could hardly fail to attract attention. "Miss Beaufort plays remarkably well," said Clinton Randall. "Oh, it's her business," answered Arethusa, with careless hauteur. "She gives lessons to my aunt's children, you know." "Your aunt is fortunate to secure such an accomplished pianist." "Oh, she is very well," said Arethusa, carelessly. "Do you feel like dancing?" "I beg your pardon. I should have suggested it." The two moved out upon the floor and took their places among the dancers. Arethusa danced passably, her partner remarkably well. At length he led her to her seat, and, with a bow, left her, much to her chagrin. Later in the evening some one relieved Rose at the piano. Clinton took the earliest opportunity to seek her out and ask her for a dance. Rose hesitated. "I have not danced for a long time," she said. "Circumstances have kept me out of society. I am afraid you won't find me a satisfactory partner." "I will take the risk, Miss Beaufort. You won't refuse?" She rose and took her place on the floor. Arethusa Jayne, who was dancing with one of the walking gentlemen of society, a young man who was merely invited to swell the number of guests, was not long in discovering Miss Beaufort's good luck, and her face showed her displeasure. It would have pleased her had Rose been awkward, but she was unusually graceful, in spite of her want of practice. Miss Jayne was hot with jealousy. "You shall repent this," she said to herself, and looked so stern that her partner asked, with alarm: "Are you not well, Miss Jayne?" "Certainly"--you fool! she would liked to have added. "Why do you ask?" "I thought you looked disturbed," he stammered. "I was only a little thoughtful," she said, with a constrained smile. "But I am fatigued. Suppose we sit down." He led her to her seat, nothing loth, and she had the satisfaction of following with her glance Clinton Randall and her rival five minutes more. "Did you have a good time, Rose?" asked her sister Adeline, next morning, at the breakfast-table. "Better than I dared to hope," answered Rose, with a smile. "Did you dance?" "Two or three times." She had danced with two partners besides Clinton Randall, and with him a second time. "It seemed quite like the old times," she said, after a pause, "when we were in society. Though I only appeared in the character of a governess, I enjoyed it." "Don't you feel tired?" "A little; but I don't go out to give lessons till afternoon." At two o'clock Rose went to Mrs. Tilton's to give her regular lessons. "Mrs. Tilton would like to see you," said the servant. A little surprised, Rose remained in the parlor till that lady appeared. "I wish to speak to you, Miss Beaufort," said Mrs. Tilton, coldly, "about your conduct last evening." "My conduct last evening!" repeated Rose, in utter surprise. "To what do you refer?"