"There's one for you, Percival," said Maxwell, delightedly. Though John, it was certain, had had a great _succès_ in Duntrum, they were all coming to think that it might do him good to be a little taken down. "That is very hard upon me, especially as it was so much to my loss," said John; and then he thought he would carry the war into the enemy's country. "But I confess," he added, "I remember nothing about the Assembly Rooms. I think we have met in other circumstances." She gave him a broad look from her fully opened eyes, with a faint elevation of the eyebrows. "There I confess you have the advantage of me," she said steadily, holding him with that look, "as I, it appears, had of you on the former occasion." Then, with the faintest turn of her head, too dignified to be called a toss, she withdrew this embarrassing look from him, with a wave towards Maxwell of the card attached to her fan. "If you want any dances from me," she said, "it will be better not to lose any time." "You cruel Marion," cried the young man, "it is all filled up, every line." "You should not have been so late," she said, with a laugh; and they stood for a moment with their heads together, in the easy intimacy of having known each other all their lives. And then followed a little ball-room battle, while John stood, somewhat grim, looking on. "I that was going to ask how many you would give me!" from him, with tender reproach; and "There will always be the extras, you know," from her. "And it's easy to mistake about an extra--if you'll be good," said Maxwell, in a lively whisper; and they laughed together over the card, which he was manipulating. John was determined he would hold his ground. She was a very pretty girl, and she was in a state of suppressed excitement (or at least he thought so), which made her doubly interesting. And it was he who was the cause of her excitement. Whatever is the reason, it pleases a man, at least of John's age, to feel that he is the cause of a woman's emotion. He was not daunted by the _persiflage_ but waited calmly till the end of the discussion; then he said-- "Is there no hope, Miss Wamphrey, for me?" "Oh, Mr Percival," she said, turning round with an air of having forgotten him, which would have done no discredit to a great lady at a court ball: and then she shook her head. "I am afraid no more than there would have been for me at the Assembly Rooms if I had aspired to dance with one of the stewards," she said, laughing; "but you can look for yourself." "Come, give him the last of the extras, Marion," said Maxwell, delighted to exercise a little patronage. "If you are not at home and fast asleep before that," said Marion, raising her eyes quickly, with a dart, to John's face.