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218 They were standing, he with her hands in his, both with trouble in their eyes. "I must go," he said, rousing himself from the contemplation of her face. "Good-night, my dear," he added wistfully. "Try to sleep happily."

Still he did not relinquish her hands. "Frank," she said falteringly, "it seems a strange way to be engaged."

"Yes, we are engaged," he answered, with an effort at brightness. "We are engaged to be married; and you have made me very happy. If it seems strange—but the strangeness will wear off in time, Elsie."

He let her hands go. "Good-night dear."

"Frank," she said, appealingly, "Frank, I didn't mean—won't you kiss me, Frank?"

was waiting anxiously for the re-appearance of Frank Hallett. Mrs. Valliant's uneasiness about Elsie had been quickly allayed. She had soon got into the fretful mood. Mrs. Valliant was one of those women in whom sweetness is apt to turn to a pettish sense of ill-usage. "There's never any calculating on Elsie's moods," she said to Ina. "She was quite well and happy when she got here. Something has gone wrong. Ina, you don't think it's possible that she has refused Lord Astar."

"I think it is very possible," said Ina; "and if she has refused him, and feels that you will be vexed, it is quite easy to understand why she went home."

"But why couldn't she have come to me, why go off in that extraordinary fashion with Frank Hallett? I am glad it was Frank Hallett, and not that Mr. Blake. Look here, Ina; if anything has gone wrong about Lord Astar, take my word for it that the fault is Mr. Blake's."

In other respects Mrs. Valliant was enjoying the ball.