like yourself should have none on a subject so gruesome. I shall
never cease regretting bringing you here tonight. I shall seize
on the first opportunity to take you home. At present we are
supposed to await the action of our host."

"He can not keep all these people here long," I ventured.

"No; most of us will he relieved soon. Had you not better get
your wraps so as to be ready to go as soon as he gives the word?"

"I should prefer to have a peep at the people in the drawing-room
first.," was my perverse reply. "I don't know why I want to see
them, but I do; and, uncle, I might as well tell you now that I
engaged myself to Mr. Durand this evening--the gentleman with me
when you first came up."

"You have engaged yourself to--to this man--to marry him, do you
mean?"

I nodded, with a sly look behind to see if Mr. Durand were near
enough to hear. He was not, and I allowed my enthusiasm to escape
in a few quick words.

"He has chosen me," I said, "the plainest, most uninteresting
puss in the whole city." My uncle smiled. "And I believe he loves
me; at all events, I know that I love him."

My uncle sighed, while giving me the most affectionate of
glances.