"For what reason?" she inquired. "Because you would care for me then." "Because of your talent and wealth!" she exclaimed. "No, that I should not." "But I thought you admired talent so much," he said, in surprise. "So I do; but mere talent would never command my respect, nor mere wealth." "The two together might," he suggested. "No. You would not understand me, Captain Langton, were I to explain. Now this dance is over, and I heard you engage Miss Rocheford for the next." "And you," he said, gloomily--"what are you going to do?" "To enjoy myself," she replied; and, from the manner in which her face brightened when he left her, the captain feared she was pleased to be quit of him. CHAPTER XVII. PAULINE'S BRIGHT FANCIES. The ball at Darrell Court was a brilliant success. Sir Oswald was delighted, Lady Hampton complimented him so highly. "This is just as it ought to be, Sir Oswald," she said. "One who can give such entertainments as this should not think of retiring from a world he is so well qualified to adorn. Confess, now, that under the influence of that music you could dance yourself." Sir Oswald laughed. "I must plead guilty," he said. "How beautiful Miss Rocheford looks to-night!" "It is well for you, Sir Oswald, that you have not heard all the compliments that the dear child has lavished on you; they would have made you vain." Sir Oswald's face brightened with pleasure. "Is your niece pleased? I am very glad indeed. It was more to give her pleasure than from any other motive that I gave the ball." "Then you have succeeded perfectly. Now, Sir Oswald, do you not see that what I said was true--that an establishment like this requires a mistress? Darrell Court always led the hospitalities of the county. It is only since no lady has lived here that it has fallen into the background." "It shall be in the background no longer," said Sir Oswald. "I think my first ball is a very successful one. How happy everybody looks!" But of all that brilliant company, Pauline Darrell was queen. There were men present who would have given anything for one smile from her lips. They admired her, they thought her beautiful beyond comparison, but they did not feel quite at ease with her. She was somewhat beyond them; they did not understand her. She did not blush, and glow, and smile when they said pretty things to her. When they gave her their most brilliant small-talk, she had nothing to give them in return. A soul quite different from theirs looked at them out of her dark, proud eyes. They said to themselves that she was very beautiful, but that she required softening, and that something lovable and tender was wanting in her. She was a queen to be worshiped, an empress to receive all homage, but not a woman to be loved. So they thought who were not even capable of judging such capacity for love as hers.