tered. Lady Moynehan was naturally anxious, after what had happened, to win Alured to her side, and hang him with the chains of pleasant servitude. It was not a very difficult task. Boys always worship women much their

seniors.

"You must let me get you some partners,' Lady Moynehan said. "There are plenty of nice girls here. But how was it I did not notice you earlier ?"

"Perhaps you did not recognise me, Lady Moynehan."

Perhaps not," she replied, laughing pleasantly. "But don't be angry with me on that account. We have only met once before, and it was very dark then. But I knew your voice to-night. Tell me, when did you arrive? We have such a crowd of people here, you know; it's impossible to shake hands with all directly they come."

They were now quite close to the ballroom, and Alured found courage to falter out,

"I think I'd rather not dance."

"Not dance? Why? You're too young to be lazy or fine? Oh, you must.'

"But I really can't dance."

"Can't. Rubbish, Mr. Frere," cried her ladyship, highly amused. "Come along," and her hand closed quite tightly on his arm.

"I mean I can't dance, because I don't know how."

"Is that all? Well, we must teach you. But," seeing that he still hung back, she added, "I will not worry you if you'd rather not."

Indeed, I had much rather not."

"As you please. I know you have a will of your own. Do you remember how determined you were that night we dropped you at the barracks? I quite admired you for your strength of mind.”

It was very pleasant for him, this sort of flattery. Pleasant to think that she could recollect so well, if she pleased, the last occasion on which they had met. Pleasanter to find there were traits in his character that won from her words of praise. It is thus that a woman of ripe experience and cleverness wins the battle easily over a boy admirer. Descending from her pedestal to pick him up from the crowd, she flatters his pride by praising his

good points, and evincing a kindly interest in his welfare.

"And how did you get on that night? You never told me that."

"It's a long story, Lady Moynehan."

"Then it must wait till by-and-by. I will not tax your good nature further now," she said, relinquishing his arm. "We shall meet again before long, I dare say."

She took a few steps, then came back. "You know you owe us a visit. When will you come? Will you stay to-night, and we'll send over for your portmanteau and servant before you are up in the morning?"

He had not got leave; that was his ex

cuse.

I'll

"Oh!" she laughed. "I know all about that. You soldiers never have leave, and never can get leave-when you don't choose. But I choose you to have leave this time. write and tell Colonel Willoughby we've kept you. I know him very well. There will be no difficulty."

So it was settled for him. certain extent, he had obtained

And now, to a

"the freedom of

Moynehan Castle." He was at home, an inmate in the house from which he had longed to escape an hour before.

But though the countess greeted him warmly, she was the only person he knew. The others stared at him just as much as ever; wondering no doubt who he was when they saw him especially favoured by the mistress of the house. Alured wandered from room to room, and by degrees the old feeling of loneliness in a crowd returned to him. He began to regret that he had not made up his mind just to try a quadrille, or if he might only go and talk to Lady Moynehan again. She made herself so pleasant. And was this magnificent personage really in his power? The kindest thing he could do would be to forget what had occurred, -to banish the strange scene from his mind utterly.

Occupied by these thoughts, he wandered about disconsolately, till, long past midnight, he met Lady Moynehan again.

"Why, Mr. Frere, I have been looking for you everywhere. You must not hide in this way, or I shall have to order you to come and

speak to me every five minutes, just to prove you're not lost in this great labyrinth of a house. Lord Moynehan wanted to see you; and now I'm afraid he's gone to bed. to bed. Late hours don't suit him much. And it's close on supper-time. I want you to take some one in.”

'I'm sure I shall be very glad," replied Alured, determined to be more sociable.

"Miss Tremenheere," said Lady Moynehan, to a bright-eyed, round-faced girl, who was sitting alone, "let me introduce my particular friend, Mr. Frere. There, Mr. Frere-now you'll do. Fanny, take care of him!" she added, with a laugh, as she went off.

"Why am I to take care of you ?"

"I suppose, because I am not able to take care of myself.”

"I should think not, indeed! How came they to let you be out so late at night?"

"Who do you mean by 'they' ?"

"Your father, or mother, or tutor, or whoever has the charge of you."

"I'm my own master. I'm an officer in the army, Miss Tremenheere."

"Goodness gracious! do you tell me so! I