“How tiresome,” thought the girl; one would suppose that her wretched little card, was something remarkable. The programme happened to be at the top of the house, and when Letty returned with it in her hand she found her aunt talking to Cousin Maude with unusual _empressement_. She was sitting close beside her on the sofa, pouring some important statement into her ear. Whatever she was saying was interrupted by the entrance of her niece, who caught the words: “Eyes for no one else!” Mrs. Fenchurch paused and nodded significantly at her companion, as much as to say: “Of this--more later.” “And so I hear your dress looked lovely, Letty, and that you had a great success. Now hand me over that programme,” said Mrs. Hesketh with a smile. “Ah, yes, I see every dance, and all manner of strange autographs and initials. I declare you ought to have this photographed! And so you enjoyed yourself very much, dear child?” “Oh, immensely,” she answered, with a happy sigh; the little drawbacks were now fading, the strains of a delicious waltz were ringing in her ears, and she was floating round the room in the arms of Lancelot Lumley. “And you are going to a dinner and dance this day week--why, you are getting quite gay!” “Well, you see, Cousin Maude, I am ‘out’ now.” “Yes, you have stretched your little wings and flown beyond the village into what is called the world. I wonder how you will like it?” “Very much, I think, as far as I have seen.” “And that amounts to one ball. What experience!” “Letty has not seen much,” admitted Mrs. Fenchurch; “but our little world has now seen _her_,” and she smiled complacently. “Ah, there is Wilson, of course, somebody wants me. Oh, I really never have five minutes to myself. I expect it is about the carpenter. Don’t go away before I come back, Maudie,” and she bustled out of the room. “Now, my dear child,” said Mrs. Hesketh, dragging her down beside her on the sofa, “tell me really and truly, all about last evening. Was it as nice as you expected?” “Yes--every bit.” “And which of your partners did you like the best? Come, honour bright.” Letty reflected for a moment. “As far as dancing went, there was an Austrian Attaché who danced like a dream--but, of course, I knew Mr. Lumley before.” “And what of Mr. Blagdon?” enquired her friend with a searching look. “Oh, he was rather heavy, and easily tired and out of breath--of course, he is old.” “Old! Why, I don’t believe he is a day more than six or seven and thirty, the prime of life! Apparently Lancelot Lumley and Mr. Blagdon were your two most favoured partners--but, my dear girl, I cannot allow you to have anything to say to either of them.” Letty burst into a ringing laugh: her laugh was spontaneous and delightful. “Why not?” she demanded. “One is too poor, and the other is too rich.” “But, Cousin Maudie, surely one doesn’t think of such things as future husbands--just at a dance?”