Reginald, much disgusted, was tied to this particular table by his partner’s wants--the demands of a locust-like appetite. “Never so tiresome or so hungry a girl,” he thought, as he replenished her plate time after time. “What fun it is to hear them discussing your wife,” she whispered; “you should get up and return thanks. How taken aback they would look.” “I don’t think I will disturb their equanimity so cruelly,” he returned. “But if you have _quite_ finished, we will adjourn. The next dance has commenced, and your partner is sure to be anathematising me.” As he rose and left the table, someone said: “Who is the young hussar fellow with the V.C. and the scowl?” “Walking down the room with the girl in green?” answered a quiet-looking man, who had taken the vacant place, and was critically scanning the _menu_. “Yes, the same.” “Oh, that’s Fairfax.” (Sensation at the supper-table.) Sir Reginald having recovered his liberty, was on his way to seek for a fresh partner, when he came face to face with one of the Twenty-Ninth who had been his host at Cheetapore. After a few brief expressions of pleasure and astonishment, the dragoon asked the hussar where he was staying, etc. “I hope I shall have the pleasure of being presented to your wife. She is here, is she not?” “Yes, but she is dancing at present.” “Point her out, please; I am most anxious to see her.” “Coming this way, in the white dress, dancing with the Highlander.” “Jove!” ejaculated the dragoon, when she had passed. An enormous amount of admiration was compressed into that one syllable. “You are a lucky fellow,” he added, surveying his companion enviously. “If I could get a wife like that, I’d marry to-morrow. Has she a sister?” “No.” “Has she a cousin with a family likeness?” “Don’t be a fool, Carew,” replied Sir Reginald impatiently. “I’m perfectly serious. There, she is sitting down now,” seizing his friend by the arm; “come along and introduce me.” But ere they reached the ottoman another partner had claimed Alice and carried her away. “Never mind,” said Sir Reginald consolingly, “come over to-morrow and dine and sleep. That will be a much better opportunity for making my wife’s acquaintance.” Meantime Alice had been enjoying herself excessively. She was very fond of dancing; the floor and the music were all that could be desired, and she had had a succession of good partners. Her spirits, as Geoffrey remarked to her, were quite up to concert-pitch, and she was spending a very pleasant evening. “So was Reginald,” she thought, as she observed him dancing every dance, and selecting with much discrimination the prettiest girls in the room! At length her waltz, number fourteen, came round. She had been in to supper with a young lord, who, anxious to retain the belle of the evening on his arm as long as possible, was parading slowly up and down, entreating her for “one more dance.”