her own heart best, and if she has cared for Frank Hallett all this time"
"Rubbish!" said Miss Pryde. "I know Elsie is not in love with Frank Hallett. Anyone could see that. If she is in love with anybody I should say it was with Mr. Blake—I am sure it seemed so in the beginning of the winter. But I think she is very wise, and I am sure I hope she will he happy."
Minnie Pryde was not slow in imparting her news to her partners, and amongst them to Blake.
"Yes, it is really true," she said. "Mrs. Valliant told me, and Mrs. Valliant as good as told me that Elsie had refused Lord Astar for Frank's sake. I don't believe it, do you?"
"I think Miss Valliant is quite capable of even that," said Blake. "When did the engagement take place? I am curious to know."
"This evening. He must have proposed in the cab on the way home. What can have made Elsie go away? There is something behind, I am certain; and I shall find it out to-morrow."
The news spread through the ball-room. "So your sister is engaged to that typical young Australian, Frank Hallett?" said Lady Waveryng, to Ina. "I'm glad of it, my dear, for I think she is a young lady who will be the better for settling down, and I meant to give you a little hint that it was not quite wise of her to flirt so desperately with Lord Astar."
"I'm sorry for Morres Blake," said Lord Waveryng later, "for I've a very shrewd suspicion that he was a good deal more gone than he cared to own on the beautiful Elsie. Well, she has done very well for herself. Old Stukeley tells me that young Hallett is a rising man, and very well off."
"My dear, you look dead," said Lady Waveryng, kindly, struck by her sister-in-law's paleness. "You ought to go home. Let Waveryng go and find Horace."
"Horace is in the supper-room," said Lord Waveryng, rather grimly. "Yes, I'll fetch him, with pleasure."
