It might have been Dick's jealous anger which caused his thoughts to take this direction as he stood there, feeling his breath come short, and as if he must go out at once, clap his cousin on the shoulder, and say, "Here! I want to speak to you at once." And all the while Mark was so close that nearly all his remarks and the lady's replies were perfectly audible. As Dick still gazed, stern and forbidding-looking, Lacey came slowly back with the thin, elderly lady, and as Mark Frayne saw by his partner's look that someone was approaching, he turned sharply. "Ah, Lacey, old fellow," he said, "I have just been securing Miss Deane for the next dance." "Take off your cap!" Lacey said something, but Dick did not hear what, and the niece rose to give up her place, and then accepted Mark Frayne's arm. "Take off your cap, sir!" "Don't forget I come next but one, Miss Deane," said Lacey. "Oh, no; I will not forget," she replied, with a pleasant smile. "Will you attend to me, and take--off--your--cap, sir?" came sharply from behind Dick, who started, coloured, and snatched off his cap, conscious now that the bandmaster was speaking to him, and the words had been heard by Mark Frayne and his partner, to whom Mark made some playful remark, at which she smiled, as they both gazed at the young bandsman. Then, as Dick's eyes met his cousin's with an angry stare, the latter's countenance changed, and he gave an involuntary start, but tossed his head in a contemptuous manner the next moment as he passed on, bending down to say something to the lady. Then _tap_--_tap_--_tap_ went Wilkins' baton, the band played a short introduction, and then glided off into one of Waldteuffel's waltzes; and, as Dick played, the cold perspiration stood out upon his forehead, while his eyes followed the couple as they went on down one side of the long mess-room, passed across, and then easily and gracefully swung round and round as they approached. Once they were quite close, and then passed him so near that he could have stretched out his hand, leaned forward, and touched Mark Frayne, who, however, never once lifted his eyes all through the dance, evidently forgetful, in his efforts to make himself agreeable, of the countenance which had given him so sudden a shock. For, after he had started on the waltz, he had dismissed the idea with one word-- "Absurd!" CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. THE ALARM. Dance succeeded dance; the refreshment-room was visited in the intervals; and, as the various couples passed the musicians, scraps of their conversation told, from time to time, how great a success the ball was considered to be; while, among the faces, all looked bright and animated except two--those of Dick and Lieutenant Lacey--who, between the dances, came by the orchestra several times to attend to the two ladies seated near, but more often to the elderly lady alone.