"I was afraid something would happen so that you couldn't come," said Nellie, as he took her proffered hand. "I couldn't very easily stay away," he replied, sitting down beside her. "Why, how funny! And why not?" she inquired, trying to suppress a blush. "The evening promised to be such an enjoyable one," he answered; "and yet I hardly dared to anticipate such good fortune as I have met with thus far." "Oh, Fred, you are learning to flatter, I do believe! I didn't think that of you." "If flattery is saying what one truly means, then I am flattering you; for if I had arranged my own program, you and I would occupy about the same positions as we do now. It couldn't suit me better, and I only hope you are as well pleased," he added. "I believe you and Grace arranged this together," she answered evasively, "without saying anything to me. I must scold her;" and she partially covered her face with her fan, which seemed to mean that she was well satisfied. "I am sure I had nothing to do with the arrangement. I must thank Grace for it, and I hope you won't scold her very hard, as this is her birthday; but before it is too late let me ask you if you will favor me with the first dance?" "Oh, with pleasure," she replied, but at the same time she wondered if he knew the dance. She had never heard of his dancing, but the first part of the opening one was to be a march, and she knew he could take part in that, even if they had to drop out of the waltz later on. "Good evening, Nellie," said Matthew, who now came up and extended his hand, adding, with an air of assurance, "I see the music is ready to start, shall we not lead the march?" "Thank you, but I am already engaged for that," she returned, casting her eyes towards Fred. "Then you won't march with me?" he asked, flushing with evident anger at the rebuff. "I must keep my engagement," she replied. "Keep your engagement with a _stick_," he rejoined, and walked away with a look of contempt on his face. The last remark made young Worthington's blood boil, but he had the good sense to take no apparent notice of it, though he fixed it well in his memory for future use. De Vere seated himself in a remote corner--the place he had expected to see Fred occupy--and looked sullenly on as the march progressed, but evidently with some degree of pleasure at the utter failure he felt sure our hero would make. In this again he was doomed to disappointment; for to his surprise and chagrin he found his rival quite at home in the waltz. He and Nellie were unmistakably the most graceful as well as the best looking couple on the floor. But Matthew was not the only surprised one present. Dave looked on with amazement, and Nellie hardly seemed to believe her own senses. "Why, Fred, when did you learn to dance so well?" she asked, as they walked around the room arm in arm. "I never had a better partner."