"Had she been some Eastern queen," he thought, "her eccentricities would have hurt no one. As it is----" and Sir Oswald concluded his sentence by a grave shake of the head. The captain, pleased with Miss Rocheford's graceful loveliness, had been amusing himself by paying her some very choice compliments, and she was delighted with them. "If Sir Oswald were only like him!" she thought; and Aubrey Langton, meeting the timid, gentle glance, said to himself that he must be careful--he had no wish to win the girl's heart--he should be quite at a loss to know what to do with it. When he saw Pauline his courage almost failed him. "How am I to ask that magnificent girl to marry me?" he said. Sir Oswald had expressed a wish that Aubrey and Pauline would open the ball; it would give people an idea of what he wished, he thought, and prevent other gentlemen from "turning her head" by paying her any marked attention. Yet he knew how difficult it would be for any one to win Pauline's regard. She made no objection when he expressed his wish to her, but she did not look particularly pleased. Captain Langton understood the art of dancing better perhaps than the art of war; he was perfect in it--even Pauline avowed it. With him dancing was the very poetry of motion. The flowers, the lights, the sweet, soft music, the fragrance, the silvery sound of laughter, the fair faces and shining jewels of the ladies, all stirred and warmed Pauline's imagination; they brought bright and vivid fancies to her, and touched the poetical beauty-loving soul. A glow came over her face, a light into her proud, dark eyes, her lips were wreathed in smiles--no one had ever seen Pauline so beautiful before. "You enjoy this, do you not?" said Aubrey Langton, as he watched her beautiful face. "I shall do so," she replied, "very much indeed;" and at what those words implied the captain's courage fell to zero. He saw how many admiring eyes followed her; he knew that all the gentlemen in the room were envying him his position with Miss Darrell. He knew that, pretty as some of the girls were, Pauline outshone them as the sun outshines the stars; and he knew that she was queen of the _fete_--queen of the ball. "This is the first time you have met many of the county people, is it not?" he asked. She looked round indifferently. "Yes, it is the first time," she replied. "Do you admire any of the men? I know how different your taste is from that of most girls. Is there any one here who has pleased you?" She laughed. "I cannot tell," she answered; "you forget this is the first dance. I have had no opportunity of judging." "I believe that I am jealous already," he observed. She looked at him; her dark eyes made his heart beat, they seemed to look through him. "You are what?" she asked. "Captain Langton, I do not understand." He dared not repeat the words. "I wish," he said, with a deep sigh, "that I had all the talent and all the wealth in the world."