"What an unnaturally pleasant thing a ball-room is!" he said,--"before the dust rises and the lights flare, I mean. But nobody ever leaves early; as the freshness vanishes, the extravagance deepens. Did you ever notice how much faster the musicians play as it grows late? When we open the windows, the fresh breath of the night increases the delirium within. I have seen the quietest women toss their faded bouquets out of the windows without a thought of making a comparison between the flowers and themselves." "My poor geraniums!" I said,--"what eloquence!" He laughed, and answered,-- "My friend Maurice yonder would have said it twice as well." We were in the promenade then, and stopped where the said Maurice was fanning himself against the wall. "May I venture to ask you for a waltz, Miss Denham? it is the next dance on the card," said Maurice;--"but of course you are engaged." I gave him my card, and he began to mark it, when Redmond took it, and placed his own initials against the dance after supper, and the last one on the list. He left me then, and I saw him a moment after talking with Laura. We passed a gay night. When Laura and I equipped for our ten miles' ride, it was four in the morning. Redmond helped Frank to pack us in the carriage, and we rewarded him with a knot of faded leaves. "This late event," said Laura, with a ministerial air, after we had started, "was a providential one. You, my dear Frank, were at liberty to pursue your favorite pastime of whist, in some remote apartment, without being conscience-torn respecting me. I have danced very well without you, thanks to the strangers. And you, Margaret, have had an unusual opportunity of displaying your latent forces. Three such different men! But let us drive fast. I am in want of the cup of tea which mother will have waiting for me." We arrived first at my door. As I was going up the steps, Laura broke the silence; for neither of us had spoken since her remarks. "By the way, they are coming here to stay awhile. They are anxious for some deep-sea fishing. They'll have it, I think." I heard Frank's laugh of delight at Laura's wit, as the carriage drove off. It was our last ball that season. It was late in the spring; and when Redmond came with his two friends and settled at the hotel in our town, it was early summer. When I saw them again, they came with Laura and Frank to pay me a visit. Laura was already acquainted with them, and asked me if I did not perceive her superiority in the fact. "Let us arrange," said Harry Lothrop, "some systematic plan of amusement by sea and land. I have a pair of horses, Maurice owns a guitar, and Redmond's boat will be here in a few days. Jones, our landlord, has two horses that are tolerable under the saddle. Let us ride, sail, and be serenaded. The Lake House, Jones again, is eight miles distant. This is Monday; shall we go there on horse-back Wednesday?" Laura looked mournfully at Frank, who replied to her look,--