Sometimes the music rose loud and rapid, and then languished to almost dying away; but whatever its movement or time, it was embodied and realized by the beautiful pair, in their sweeping, graceful motions. The maiden's face was wrapt with a sweet, joyous light in her half-shut eyes; his, pale, but lit up and softened in the lamp-light, seemed fairly beautiful, like a poet's. "How beautiful!" "How exquisite!" from the ladies. "What a dance for lovers!" said Mrs. Ford. "They are lovers, are they not?" asked a lady from Warren. "I think not," said Mrs. Markham, with a glance at Julia, who, never withdrawing her eyes, stood with lips slightly apart, and her face bright with unenvying admiration. A little ripple--a murmur--and a decided clapping of hands around the room, with other sounds from the crowd at the entrance, marked the appreciation of the beautiful performance. The moment that this reached Barton, he led his delighted partner towards her group of friends, remarking: "Your admirers are sincere, Miss Walters, but too demonstrative, I fear." "Oh, I don't mind it," said the straightforward girl. "And I have to thank you for your courtesy to me," he went on, "and only hope that all my punishments may come in the same form." "Mrs. Ford, is the judgment satisfied?" "Satisfactory as far as you went, but then you did not serve out your time." "Have consideration, I pray, for the minister of justice," bowing to Miss Walters. "She seemed rather to like it," said Mrs. Ford. "Indeed I did!" and the young ladies gathered about to congratulate her, and cast admiring glances at her partner. "Mr. Ridgeley," said Mrs. Markham, "I was not aware that you were an accomplished waltzer." "You forget," Bart answered mockingly, "that I am travelled; and you know my only aptitude is for the useless." "I did not say that." "You are too kind. I sometimes supply words to obvious thoughts." "And sometimes to those that have no existence." The floor filled again, and the music struck up. Standing, a moment later, at a window, Julia saw a figure pass out, pause at the roadway, turn and look up. The full glare of the lamps revealed the face of Bart, from which the light had faded, and its beauty and spirit of expression had departed. He gazed for an instant up at the brilliant and joyous scene, where a moment before he had been a central and applauded figure, and then, muffling his face in his cloak, he turned away. He had not intended to go, and sat melancholy through the darkness of the early night; but somehow, a hungry, intense longing came to him to go and look for a moment upon the loveliness of Julia, as she would stand open to the eyes of all, just for one moment, and then to go away. He felt that he ought not to do it, but he went. He could not help it. When he reached the place, three miles away, he was annoyed by being recognized and pointed at, and talked at, on account of his late encounter with Grid.