She had no idea the feeling she would have would be like this, and almost felt the inclination to tears again; but the inspiring strains of a waltz that came through the heavy curtains helped her out just then, as does a fiddle to a tragedy-scene in a New York theatre. So she gave him his dismissal with much courage; and was relieved to find that Derwent neither fumed nor fainted. Meantime John Haviland, growing tired of the “_schiera piena_” in the ball-room, had left his place and wandered from the room, before Miss Farnum in her turn came round again. Was it lack of tact that made him enter the conservatory--where so short a time before Miss Livingstone and Lionel had gone? Derwent looked up at once and saw him; but Mamie gave a little start that showed her freshness at this sort of thing. “I hope I don’t interrupt an important conversation” said Haviland. “Not at all; we were talking of trifles,” answered Derwent, placidly. “Let’s go down to supper.” Now for a man who has just had his heart broken to evince a desire for supper, was a thing so new to all Mamie’s novel-reading experience that she answered with some angry humor that she was not hungry. “Mr. Haviland can get me an ice, if he likes,” she added. Just then, Gracie Holyoke came in; and it was poor John’s heart’s turn to beat. “I will sit here with Grac--with Miss Holyoke,” added Mamie; and John must needs go get the ice, while Lionel Derwent stayed behind. He talked to Gracie, though; while Mamie was wild to tell her she had so well fulfilled her promise. So she passed the time by looking about the adjacent ball-room for Charlie Townley. Strange to say, she had not yet seen him anywhere. Well, there was time enough; she rather liked to have the whole ball gone through with, first. Perhaps she was foolish to get engaged, at her very first ball. She would give him his dismissal too; that would make two in one evening! It was outrageous in him to leave her to herself all through the evening, even at supper-time, that most favored time of all! Nay, I fear me, master Charles would have had but an easy victory, had he made assault just then. But Charlie she did not see in any of the rooms; and some male individual in a white waistcoat and catseye stud, who took her through the rooms and down to supper, even told her that he had not come.