She did not guess how long it seemed to Valchester before the next dance came. Walter Earle took her to her seat and lingered beside her until his friend availed himself of the first notes of the music to come and lead her away. "I hoped she had not a partner for this dance," cried Walter, dolorously. "I meant to sit here and talk sentiment to her. I shall regret that I taught her the steps since you fellows continually take her away from me." "I will sit by you, Walter," said his sister, coming to his side. There was a smile on her face, but her voice sounded sad or troubled somehow. "What, not dancing?" he said, surprised. "Not this time. I am tired and would rather rest," she answered. She sat down by his side and laid her white, jeweled hand on his arm. "Walter, are you in love with Lina Meredith?" she asked him, very low. Walter started and flushed. "That's a leading question--rather," he said. "Well, Violet, I certainly admire her. I have never seen a more charming little girl in my life." "Is Ronald Valchester in love with her, too?" pursued Violet, looking away from him that he might not see how much pain the question had brought into her eyes. Walter laughed at the question. "Valchester in love?" he said. "The idea is too supremely ridiculous to be entertained. What put such an idea in your head, Vi?" "I don't know," she said. "Yes, I do, too! Last summer, you know, he said she was so fascinating." "So he did--and so she is," said her brother. "But in love! Valchester is too devoted to his books and his esthetic fancies to fall in love with anything less ethereal than the muse of poetry." "If you are in love with Lina Meredith, why don't you propose to her and have the matter settled?" she asked, petulantly. "I didn't know you were anxious to have Lina Meredith for a sister," said Walter, staring. "I should be very pleased," said Violet, desperately, and she spoke the truth. She knew that Jaquelina was good and pretty. She had nothing against her except her vague jealousy of Ronald Valchester. "If you mean to propose for her, pray do so at once, and let us have the wedding this fall," said Violet, with feverish impatience. Meanwhile Jaquelina's partner, with his tall head bent over her, was saying: "I had not forgotten you, Miss Meredith, though I seemed startled for the moment. Did you think I had?" The dark eyes looked at him in smiling gratitude. "I know that you remembered me kindly once, at least," she replied. "It was when you sent me the books. Oh, I could not tell you how much I enjoyed them, Mr. Valchester. You cannot imagine what happiness they gave me. I could never thank you enough for your kindness." "If you remembered me kindly a few times it was quite sufficient," he said. "Did you--Lina?" "Did I _what_?" said the girl, with a keen shiver of some indefinable emotion as the low name passed his lips. "Think of me?" he answered, looking straight into her dark, uplifted eyes.