There was a stir throughout the hall. The king and queen were descending; the floor manager was already manifesting his authority. "Let's stay here until the grand march is over," said Raridan. He had partly regained his spirits, and was again pointing out people of interest on the floor below. "Now wasn't it magnificent?" he demanded. "Wasn't Evelyn lovely?" exclaimed the girls in a breath. "We didn't need this circus to prove it, did we?" asked Raridan cynically. "Aren't there any more exercises--is it all over?" cried Miss Marshall. "Bless us, no!" replied Raridan. The evolutions of the grand march were now in progress and they stood watching it. "They didn't get enough rehearsals for this," said Raridan. "Look at that mix up!" One of the knights had tripped and stumbled over the skirt of his robe. "They ought to behead him for that." "Mr. Raridan's terribly severe," said Saxton. The king and queen, leading the march, were passing under the box. "The king really looks scared," remarked Miss Warren. "Yes; he's rather conscious of his clothes," said Raridan. "His train rattles him." Evelyn glanced up at them and laughed and nodded. Before the march broke up into dancing they went down from the gallery. On the floor, the older people were resolving themselves into lay figures against the wall. They found Mr. Porter leaning against one of the rude supports of the gallery, wondering whether he might now escape to the retirement of the cloak-room to get his hat and cigar. The young people burst upon him with congratulations. "You must he dying of pride," exclaimed Miss Marshall. "Evelyn never looked better," declared Miss Warren. "It was splendid!" "We are proud to know you, sir," said Raridan, shaking hands. "I surely came to Clarkson in the right year," said Saxton. Porter regarded them with the patronizing smile which he kept for those who praised Evelyn to his face. "The only thing now," he said, "is to get that girl home before daylight." "Oh, the queen gives her own orders," said Raridan. "You'll never be boss at the Hill any more!" He was bringing up all the unattached men he knew to present them to the visitors. He never forgot any one, and not merely the debutantes of other years, but girls that were voted slow in the brutal court of social opinion, were always sure of rescue at his hands. Evelyn and Wheaton were bearing down upon them; Evelyn, flushed and happy, and Wheaton in a glow from the exercise of the march and a dance with her. There was a fusillade of interjections as many crowded about with praise of the leading actors. It was all breathless and incoherent. The crowd was uncomfortably large, and the hall was hot. Porter found General Whipple and escaped with him to the smoking room. Young men were everywhere writing their names on elaborate dance cards.