But Daphne seemed to have learnt them--or had they come to her by instinct?--for she was dancing in one of the sets. He watched her lissome form as she moved through the intricate evolutions till he began to envy the Count von Daumerlingstamm, her elegant but undersized partner. However, he flattered himself that he would have no difficulty in cutting out little Daumerlingstamm. It seemed to him that that dance would never be over, but the moment it was, he made his way to Daphne with an air that showed he was fully aware of the distinction he was conferring. "Enjoying yourself, Miss Heritage?" he said. "Don't know what that last dance was--but not much 'vim' about it, if you ask _me_. Tell you what--I'll get those fiddler fellows up there to play something a bit livelier, and you and I'll show this crowd a two-step, what?" "This is a great honour, your Royal Highness," said Daphne, after sinking demurely in the regulation curtsey. "But I must not accept it until I have her Majesty's permission." ("Which I'm quite sure she won't give!" she thought to herself with much satisfaction.) "Oh, I say--what rot! The Mater won't mind! And if she does----!" "It would be very disagreeable for me, your Royal Highness!" "Oh, well," he said, "I'll go and ask her." As Daphne had anticipated, Queen Selina's refusal was most emphatic. "You ought to know, Clarence, that it's utterly out of the question!" she said. "And I'm surprised at Miss Heritage having the presumption to expect it." "She didn't, Mater. She said I'd better ask you first." "Then it seems she has a better sense of her position than you have of yours, Clarence. I'm told you have been seen walking about with a disgusting pipe in your mouth, and that several people were remarking on it. Now you are actually proposing to make yourself conspicuous by dancing at a State Ball with your sister's companion! I have always credited you with being a man of the world--but if _this_ is the way you are going on----!" He felt the sting of so unwonted a rebuke. "I daresay you're right, Mater," he acknowledged. "I'll be more careful after this." "I hope you will, I'm sure. As Crown Prince you mustn't _think_ of any partner under the rank of Baroness. Ask one of the Princesses first, or you'll give _more_ offence." "Right-oh!" was all he said, and, feeling that it would be awkward to make any explanation or excuses to Daphne, he solved the difficulty by avoiding her for the rest of the evening. Princess Goldernenfingerleinigen, a prepossessing but not very forthcoming damsel, enjoyed the distinction of being commanded by the Crown Prince as his first partner.