“That silly thing!” she said, bashfully. “It was an impromptu at school. It really happened, you know. Nell Olney was the torment of the teachers, and the darling of the girls--the most arrant little flirt in Staunton. The girls said I should put it into rhyme, and I did on the moment. You know I told you they came easy.” “It was very amusing,” Norman said, as he folded the paper again. Then he sighed, he scarce knew why, unless it was at the vision he had conjured up of Thea with the rest in “The gloom Of the quiet, studious room,” her golden head filled with “Dreams of love and lovers blent.” The school-girlish verses and the artless enjoyment with which she explained them made her seem younger and further away than ever. How beautiful, how charming she was. Did she realize her power, did she guess how madly his heart was beating, how he longed to take her in his arms and crush her against his breast in a passion of love? He must go, else presently she might be laughing at him as she had laughed at her other lovers. He rose abruptly. “I think I must be going.” Thea rose, too, her smile growing less bright. “I will go with you to the house,” she said. “Is it necessary? I believe all I came for was to look after you, Sweetheart. Of course,” hurriedly, “my mother was anxious. I suppose I can go away now?” “Certainly not”--the frank eyes dilated widely. “You promised Miss Bentley, you know, and she--all of us--put on our prettiest morning-dresses. You must go to her at once,” with pretty imperiousness. But she stopped, plucked a rosebud from her belt, and put it in his button-hole. “Wear my colors this once,” she said, with a daring that yet did not seem like boldness, only pretty child’s play. “If I could believe she meant anything!” he thought, vaguely, as he walked by her side along the beautiful avenue shaded by orange-trees, whose globes of golden fruit hung pendant from the trees. She walked on demurely, thinking daintily in verse: “Ah, happy rose, Blest that you rise and fall upon his breast, Whisper him soft of love, All earthly joys above, Within my heart that glows With such unrest!” Suddenly he turned to her, saying: “Have you had your fill of dancing, Sweetheart?” “We dance every evening, but I am always ready for more,” she answered, smiling. “I am thinking of giving a ball at Verelands when you come home.” “Oh, how sweet!” Thea gave a little jump of delight. “May I tell the girls?” “If you wish.” Nell Bentley came out on the long piazza of the picturesque white house. “Oh, there you are at last!” she exclaimed, vivaciously. “We thought you were never coming.” “I stopped to talk with Sweetheart about a little plan of ours, Miss Nellie,” he said, taking her hand a moment and pressing it warmly. “He is going to give us a ball at Verelands when I go home,” said Thea, joyously.