"Oh! am I? Then you must be the boy I remember. Dear me! dear me! it makes me feel quite an old woman! How odd that I should meet you, and begin talking of your people. I've a dreadful way of stumbling into social pitfalls--and I was just about to discuss your stepmother. Now, tell me, when can I see your aunt?" "Any time after supper. You will find her up on the daïs place. She is wearing a sort of purple gown." (A sort of purple gown!--that exquisite French garment of misty mauve and silver.) "Very well--and, Verona, I must have a little talk with you. I suppose you are engaged ten deep?" "Yes, but I think I could give you the Lancers," she rejoined, "to sit out." "My dear child! I am engaged; I am dancing with the Lieutenant-Governor! Oh, do please look at this party who have just come in--the two women especially. It is not often you see such dark complexions in society! How _did_ they get here? Observe the creature with the shell chains in her hair. Why! you know them!" as Blanche nodded at Verona; "who are they?" "They are my mother and sister," she answered in a low voice, and her features were so controlled as to be almost expressionless. "Good heavens!" exclaimed Lady Ida, and the colour flew from her cheeks to her hair. "Oh, my dear girl, you are not serious!" "I believe this is our dance," suggested Salwey, with admirable invention and composure, rising and pushing back his chair, "and it has already begun. Shall we go?" In another moment Verona and her partner had disappeared, leaving Lady Ida gazing at a certain group at a side table, and greatly puzzled to know whether Verona Chandos were in jest or earnest. Then she suddenly remembered that there was some queer story about the girl's relations in India, and her ladyship relapsed into unwonted silence, and left her supper untouched, and as soon as her cavalier was movable, requested him to pilot her to the upper seats in the ball room, where she lost no time in making a search for a certain lady in a purple gown. "We are just in time," said Salwey, as he and his partner re-entered the ball room; "we can have a second supper." He felt the hand on his arm trembling, and the girl's face was ashen pale; undoubtedly the scene at the supper table had told; but she maintained an air of composure, and the dignity of a high-bred silence, and in another moment they were launched upon the current of dancers. The waltz was a well-known German favourite--many a step had Verona danced to it elsewhere. When the last bar had sobbed away into the empty air, Salwey led his companion out to the great flagged terrace which overlooks the river. It was a splendid Eastern night, light as day--no Indian ball would be complete without the moon. There were numbers of couples on the terrace, and Salwey guided his partner to where there were two spare seats, close to the parapet! No skulking in corners for him. He was proud to be seen with the new Miss Chandos.