“And what a charming little cavalier that boy is!” said a lady who was devoted to children, and whose eyes wandered over Murray’s handsome little figure with a certain thrill of sympathy. The little fellow was dressed as a cavalier of the time of Charles I., and the dress suited his picturesque dark beauty to perfection. “How like his uncle he is!” everyone said. Once the boy heard the words. He glanced round with a flash in his eyes, and said excitedly: “I’m so delighted you say that. I want to be like Uncle Adrian—that is, in _most_ things.” He did not add any more. He was devoting himself just then to Lady Georgina, who, amused with his manly airs, condescended to dance with him once or twice. “This is our dance,” he said, running up to her. “I’m so glad it is not a square dance. I hate square dances. This is a right down jolly waltz. There’s nothing like a waltz, is there?” “No, when you are young, and it does not turn you giddy,” said Lady Georgina. “Well, you are young enough,” he said, looking up at her. “And so are you,” she replied with a laugh. “I wish I were older,” he said. “If I were older, we might be betrothed, might we not?” “I don’t think age matters,” said Lady Georgina, “we can be betrothed if you like.” “Do you mean it really?” Murray’s face glowed with delight. “It is really nice to be engaged,” he said, after a pause, “and you are a tall lady. I always said I would have a tall lady to be my wife, for then she might become something like Aunt Nancy. Come on, won’t you? Don’t let us waste lose a minute of this dance.” Lady Georgina stepped into the middle of the room, and she and Murray danced together to the amusement of many people who watched them. As they approached the other end of the ball-room, they suddenly came plump up against Hester Winsome. She was passing through the room with a tray of glasses in her hands. Lady Georgina’s dislike to this girl was increasing each moment. She stopped now to reprimand her. “What are you doing here?” she said. “Do you know that it is very wrong of you to bring glasses into the ball-room? We might have knocked them all over.” [Illustration: “What are you doing here? Do you know it is very wrong of you to bring glasses into the ball-room?”—_Page 211._] “I am really sorry, madam,” said Hester, dropping a curtsey as she spoke. “I know I ought to have gone round by the corridor outside, but this part of the room seemed quite clear just for the moment, and Jacob was in a hurry. He sent me flying for some fresh glasses. I am very sorry, of course.” “Well, don’t do it again,” said Lady Georgina, “and go away now; this is no place for you.” Hester tripped across the room, carrying her glasses deftly. Lady Georgina and Murray prepared to resume their dance. Suddenly Hester’s face was seen in the doorway. “Master Murray, may I speak to you for a moment?” she called out. “What can you want, Hester?” cried the boy. “I am very busy just now. I can’t leave my partner.”