So he carried her round and round the room, the most perfect partner he had ever danced with, who moved so sympathetically with all his movements that she might have been his shadow--but for the electric current of strong life that her hand in his, and her light weight on his shoulder, and the subtle sense of her emotion, sent thrilling through his veins; and in the teeming silence his brain was busy making rapid plans and calculations for effectively dealing with the many difficulties that would come crowding upon both of them as soon as this waltz was over. Clearly, the first thing to do was to dispose of ambiguities between themselves. "Come into the conservatory," he said, in a quick under tone, when five silent, delicious minutes had passed; "I want to say something to you before these people begin to spread all over the place again." But even as he spoke, as if a spell had been broken, the light and rapture died suddenly out of her face, her limbs relaxed, her airy footsteps faltered, she seemed to melt away in his arms. "Oh," she whispered, looking up at him with tragic eyes, full of fear and despair, "how wicked I have been! What _will_ he say to me?" "Never mind _him_," replied Mr. Dalrymple; "you must not let him have any right to dictate to you any more--you must break off your engagement at once, and get out of his hands. Wicked!--the only wicked thing would be to deceive him any longer. You _know_ you don't love him. Come into the conservatory, and let us talk about it. _Do_ come--there is nobody there now!" But Rachel, being a woman, and a coward, and only eighteen years old, would not come. She knew what she wanted, but she dared not do it--she dared not even think of it. "I must not--I must not!" she protested, in a childish panic of terror. "Let me go, Mr. Dalrymple, _please_--I have done very wrong--I am afraid to stay----" And slipping out of his arms, which did the utmost that courtesy permitted to hold her, she fled through a doorway near and disappeared; and thus threw away an opportunity the loss of which was to cost them both long days and nights of suspense and suffering--as she foresaw with agonies of regret, even while she did it. Mr. Dalrymple danced and talked, and sauntered about, proud and cool as usual to the superficial observer, but raging with impatience in his heart, and watched for her return; but he saw her no more until supper time, when she was led into the dining-room, looking very pale and quiet, on Mr. Kingston's arm. The whole night passed, and he never had a chance to get near her again; though as may be supposed, it was from no lack of effort on his part; and he went to the laundry at last, hours after she had gone to bed, to change his clothes preparatory to taking a morning walk up the hills, without even having had the satisfaction of one look from her eyes, which, however timid and terrified, he felt sure would have told him the truth.