Dancing commenced at eight in the large breakfast-room, which had been cleared for the occasion. Tom Barton, who when himself was very gentlemanly and agreeable, was the first upon the floor with Emma as his partner, while Robert Macpherson followed next with Julia, and Godfrey with Rosamond. “Come, boys, fill up, fill up,” Godfrey cried, to the row of bashful youths, looking longingly at the row of expectant girls. “We want some one to fill our set. Here, Peterkin, get your girl and join us.” “I dassent for fear she won’t,” Peter said, blushing to the roots of his hair. Godfrey knew who _she_ was, and answered the timid swain: “Nonsense! You are too faint-hearted. Yes, she will; try her, and hurry up!” Thus encouraged, Peter made his way to Alice, and making the bow he had practised at intervals for a week in anticipation of this very event, said, with a face as red as his necktie: “Miss Creighton, will you please to be—so good—as to—dance this time with me? Mr. Godfrey said how you would.” With a look of ineffable scorn, Alice replied: “Thank you, sir. I do not dance to-night.” Her eyes and voice expressed her contempt, and Peter felt it, and utterly crestfallen and abashed, went back to Godfrey and said: “I tole you she wouldn’t, and she won’t.” “Oh, bother; but never mind, there’s,—but no.” And Godfrey stopped short in what he was going to say. Gertie had paid her respects to Edith, and then, attracted by the music, made her way to the breakfast-room and stood within the door. Godfrey’s first thought when he saw her was to give her to Peterkin for a partner, but some undefined feeling forced the impulse back. He could see proud Alice Creighton dance with Peter and think it rare fun, but not this beautiful child, who might thus be classed with the lout. Her partners must be the best in the room, Robert Macpherson, and himself, and young Ransom, the judge’s son, who fortunately came that way just then looking for a lady. “Here, Will. We want you here. Let me introduce you to the prettiest girl in the room,” Godfrey said; and the next moment Gertie stood upon the floor opposite Robert and Julia Schuyler. How pretty and graceful she was, and how well she went through with the dance, never making the slightest mistake, but seeming to carry her tall partner along by the airy ease of her motions. “I say, Schuyler, who is that princess in disguise I have just danced with?” young Ransom said to Godfrey, after he had led Gertie to a seat. “She is a princess in disguise, I do believe. Isn’t she pretty though?” Godfrey replied; and then he told what he knew of Gertie Westbrooke, and added, laughingly: “But hands off, if you please. She is only thirteen, and I will not have her harmed.”