He could not steer. He had no confidence, and he got out of nobody's way. Grace's ears got red and tingled, and her whole face flushed with wounded vanity. After two or three struggles, in which they were ignominiously worsted, she stopped and gazed at the soft, gliding motion of happier girls, with a feeling of anger and desperation. Then coming towards her, she saw a couple moving with an inexpressibly graceful air, and recognised Sir Albert Gerald. Forgetful of everything, but that she saw at last one face she knew, she stepped forward and pronounced his name. Sir Albert laughingly bowed and swung on without stopping. Tears rose in her eyes, and, turning to Mr. Bott, she said-- "I do not feel well. Will you take me to Lady Lyons?" He obeyed in silence, so deeply offended with her for her manner, showed evident want of appreciation or his dancing, that he made no effort to persuade her to have some refreshment instead, and bowing, turned away immediately. "Let us go home, Lady Lyons; I am so tired." "And have no supper! I have been longing to have something to eat. I declare, sitting on this hard bench and doing penance, makes one desperately hungry; and I am here on your account, my dear." "How can we go to supper without any one to take us?" "We can go by ourselves--several people have done it already--do come." Just as Grace was complying with her request, she was stopped by Sir Albert Gerald, who brought a young man--a very young man--up to Grace, and introduced him. "I am coming to claim a dance soon," he said; "I saw you suffering martyrdom with poor little Bott. It was very good of you to give him a dance." "I could not help myself," said Grace, her spirits restored immediately by this change in her prospects of enjoyment; "he was the only person introduced to me." "Bott always manages to find a new victim," said the man introduced by Sir Albert--a Mr. Powis. "Do you want to have supper? Oh! I see, the old lady does. Come along, Gerald; we will have supper all together," and Lady Lyons was soon as perfectly happy as she could be while half dead from want of sleep. CHAPTER VII. The appearance of Sir Albert Gerald on the scene of action had a magical effect upon Grace. Every trace of fatigue vanished. She was once again bright, happy, careless, and full of enjoyment; once again the music charmed her, and once again she was glad to be there. Supper over, Sir Albert found a more comfortable seat for Lady Lyons, and introduced her to a lady sitting there, who eyed her smart clothes with a little suspicion till the Duchess addressed a few kind words to her, when she discovered immediately that they had much in common.