She came in like a lily and a rose and Eve's fairest daughter all in one; and our boys gazed at her spell-bound, startled, electrified as though by a galvanic shock. And deep down in the consciousness of each was a strange, wonderful, peaceful joy, a sudden endowment, and an almost overpowering yearning. In the self-same moment each knew that in all the world there was no other woman for him than Grace Eager. And, vaguely, behind that, was the fear that the other was feeling the same. And she? She enjoyed to the full the novel sensation of the effect she produced upon them, and was just the same Gracie as of old--almost. She sailed up to them and dropped a most becoming curtsey, and rose from it all agleam and aglow with merry laughter at their visible undoing. "Well, boys, what's the matter with you?" she rippled merrily. "You!" gasped Jim. "Me? What's the matter with me? I'm all right. Don't you like me like this? Meg and I made it between us." Didn't they like her like that? Why----! "You see," said Jack, "we've never seen you like this before, and you've taken us by surprise." "Oh, well, get over it as quickly as you can, and then you may ask me to dance with you." "I don't think I'll ever get over it, but I'll ask you now," said Jim. Which was not bad for him. And Jack felt the first little stab of jealousy he had ever experienced towards Jim, at his having got in first. "I'd like every dance," laughed Jim happily, "but----" "Quite right, old Jim Crow! Mustn't be greedy! You first, because you spoke first, then Jack----" "Then me again," persisted Jim. "We'll see. Is that Ralph Harben? How he's grown! His whiskers and moustache make him look quite a man." And Jim decided instantly on the speedy cultivation of facial adornments. "Oh, he's coming! And there's Meg." And she flitted away to Margaret, who was talking to Charles Eager, and so for the moment upset Master Harben's plans for her capture. With no little distaste the boys had suffered instruction in the art of dancing, as a necessary part of the education of a gentleman. Now they fervently thanked God for it. To have to stand with their backs to the wall while every Tom, Dick, or Ralph whirled past in the dance with Gracie, would have been quite past the bearing. They felt new sensations under their waistcoats even when George Herapath had her in charge, though there was not a fellow on earth they liked better, or had more confidence in, than old George, now a dashing lieutenant in the Royal Dragoons, and quite a man of the world. As for Ralph Harben--well, if either of them could have picked a reasonable quarrel with him, and had it out in the garden, unbeknown to any but themselves, Master Ralph would have undergone much tribulation.