like rose-petals, her eyes aglitter with excitement and a charming blush
upon her face.

She came straight up to me, and, resting a dainty hand upon my shoulder,
whispered, "Are you come as a spectator only, dear Mr. Jones, or do you
join in our custom tonight?"

"I came only as a bystander, lady, but the fascination of the opportunity
is deadly--"

"And have you any preference?"--this in the softest little voice from
somewhere in the nape of my neck. "Strangers sometimes say there are
fair women in Seth."

"None--till you came; and now, as was said a long time ago, 'All is
dross that is not Helen.' Dearest lady," I ran on, detaining her by
the fingertips and gazing up into those shy and star-like eyes, "must
I indeed put all the hopes your kindness has roused in me these last
few days to a shuffle in yonder urn, taking my chance with all these
lazy fellows? In that land whereof I was, we would not have had it so,
we loaded our dice in these matters, a strong man there might have a
willing maid though all heaven were set against him! But give me leave,
sweet lady, and I will ruffle with these fellows; give me a glance and I
will barter my life for your billet when it is drawn, but to stand idly
by and see you won by a cold chance, I cannot do it."

That lady laughed a little and said, "Men make laws, dear Jones, for
women to keep. It is the rule, and we must not break it." Then, gently
tugging at her imprisoned fingers and gathering up her skirts to go,
she added, "But it might happen that wit here were better than sword."