"Do you? You have a good memory. I believe you only saw him once or twice." "Three times," Jaquelina answered. "I do not believe he has remembered _you_ so well," said Violet, arranging her bracelets. "When some one named you this morning at breakfast, he did not speak of you nor ask any questions. He appeared calm and uninterested as if you were a stranger." "He has probably forgotten me," said Jaquelina, quietly, and Violet could not see any change in the charming face as she spoke the careless words. She had changed somewhat since she had been away, and acquired a touch more of the grave, pretty dignity that had always seemed so natural to her. There was a minute's pause while they stood together beneath the arched lattice work of honeysuckle and roses, like a beautiful picture of night and morning; the one with her fair, blonde beauty and pale blue robe; the other in her soft gray draperies, and dusky eyes with that starry gleam in their darkness. That thought came into the mind of the gentleman who came up to them from a side-path, almost abruptly. It was Ronald Valchester. "Miss Earle," he said, "I think you promised to give me the first dance." "I am ready to keep my word," answered Violet, with a brilliant smile. Then she saw that the blue-gray eyes were gazing intently at her silent companion. "Oh, Mr. Valchester," she cried, "I see you have forgotten Lina Meredith. She was at our party last summer, and went boating on the river with us one day--don't you remember?" Some pretty lines somewhere read rushed into his mind. Jaquelina embodied the thought: "Sweet face, swift eyes, and gleaming, Sun-lifted, mingling hair-- Lips like two rosebuds dreaming In June's sweet-scented air. Life, when her spring days meet her, Hope, when the angels greet her, Is not more calm, nor sweeter, And love is not more fair!" He drew a long breath and stepped forward with extended hand. "Miss Meredith, is it really you?" he said. "You must pardon me that I did not recognize you on the instant. I had not forgotten you, but you have changed." She gave him her slim hand a moment, and would have spoken, but Violet seemed impatient, and tapped her daintily slippered foot restlessly. "I hear the first notes of the band," she said. "If we do not hasten they will make up the dance without me." Valchester bowed and offered her his arm just as Walter Earle came hurrying up. "Miss Lina, will you give me the first dance?" he said; "you owe it to me, indeed, for I taught you your first steps last year. Do you remember?" "As though it were yesterday," she replied, with a smile, as she put her slight hand on his arm. In the whirl of the dance Valchester bent his tall head over her a moment to ask, almost pleadingly: "Will you give me the next dance, Miss Meredith?" "Yes," she answered, as their hands met a moment in the giddy turn.