pretty imperiousness had given place to a shy submissiveness, but she seemed to me to try to see as little of him as she could. At this juncture there was a ball at Ashwick; Mr. Winton's house; to which the Newtons and ourselves, and indeed all the county, were going. The excitement seemed to act beneficially upon Mrs. Newton. She looked bewitchingly pretty; all her natural playfulness came back, and she appeared especially desirous of making up to Norman for her previous coldness. Whether he would, in any case, have asked her to dance, I do not know; but she almost forced him to do it, by saying that she felt it would be inconsistent with her position to waltz, and she supposed "swells" like me and Norman did not care for anything else.
I was only equal to the minimum of exertion that evening, for I was suffering from a splitting headache, and could only keep myself going at all by occasional turns in the cool air. I was on the point of setting out for one of these when the quadrille in which Norman had danced with Mrs. Newton came to an end. I heard him say to her, "There are a few words I must say to you. Walk aside with me for five minutes."
in those
at last.
soft eyes
and reproach. "I Annie," said Norman. a oold-blooded man, you know, and
"F<
•
me." with forced calmness, but I could 9 surging tell that pfl strong within. She had withdrawn her hand from hi
They stood now looking at she seemed no longer able to resist the fascination, and trembled. He took her hand so -willing to be made a lie
cm
neas
fire
[uent in love
at
ball
indeed
.
saw the
I
•
there was a
going.
to
spoke.
each other
till
—
—
and covered it with kisses. prisoner " Shall I go ?" he asked again.
The small white fingers nestled lovingly amidst the cils of his heavy black moustache.
Her other hand was
laid
upon
lightly
his
arm. I
was only equal
minimum
to the
from a yself
in
the cool
air.
ing out for one of
which
da heard him
Norman had
I an end. e a few words le with me for to
b..
That
of exer-
tig
and that touch snapped the chain
kiss
of his self-restraint. " I " heard him whisper as he darling drew her to his breast ; " once more, then, He kissed her passionately and long. Annie."
My
"
We
!
must go back now," he
from
spring
but yielded. I felt anything at the moment, .
I
ami up enewhat restored me.
-
i
the
terrace
was passing the its open windows, Newton was
I h
I
.
wrl
tho sole occupants «e I ought to have with-
should have
I
far
left
more dangerous his
motive for
think had weight, I the true
rci.
.
such
a
of
reserve
We
a child.
had stood as if spell-bound, seeing all and now I wished to Heaven I had been I was too confused a thousand miles away. to thiuk, but as I entered the ball-room, and my eyes fell on honest-hearted and unsuspicious Frank Newton, I felt I could not let this go on. I was only consicous of oik wish not to be alone with Norman till I had I
this,
— my mind. One thing well — that might as well urge on a hungry
are not angry with
y,
me dow,
are
yon
m
M
an,
little
hand thai lay on
his
tiger, as
when
it
knew
I
John him and his
the moral law on
stood between
'
arm.
was now very
and
late,
for
tl
S
of to
screen
hall
]
ould
Newton
.Mrs.
fron
He sen him I
ion.
i
any won: do But what should I
'
on our an
mind,
not—
I
I
till
full
pliilan;
hear!
l
It
preseure of the
conscious
—
She was quite passive, and went with him like
I
you have been
last,
back."
made up
as
at
must go back now we have been away too long. Come, dearest, let me get you some water, and I will tak <c
strength,
almost
said
looking down on her flushed and frightened face with that calm smile that seem-
the