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No appeal could have found a more immediate response in Archer's breast; but he wished that the necessity of their action had been represented by soroup about Miss Wellandhis share of the felicitations he drew his betrothed into the middle of the ball-room floor and put his arm about her waist

"Noe shan't have to talk," he said, s into her candid eyes, as they floated away on the soft waves of the Blue Danube

She made no answer Her lips trembled into a smile, but the eyes remained distant and serious, as if bent on so her to hied, even if spent in a ball-roorave and sacra to be, with this whiteness, radiance, goodness at one's side!

The dance over, the two, as became an affianced couple, wandered into the conservatory; and sitting behind a tall screen of tree-ferns and caloved hand to his lips

"You see I did as you asked me to," she said

"Yes: I couldn't wait," he answered s After a moment he added: "Only I wish it hadn't had to be at a ball"

"Yes, I know" She ly "But after all--even here we're alone together, aren't we?"

"Oh, dearest--always!" Archer cried

Evidently she was always going to understand; she was always going to say the right thing The discovery aily: "The worst of it is that I want to kiss you and I can't" As he spoke he took a swift glance about the conservatory, assured hi her to hiitive pressure on her lips To counteract the audacity of this proceeding he led her to a bamboo sofa in a less secluded part of the conservatory, and sitting down beside her broke a lily-of-the-valley from her bouquet She sat silent, and the world lay like a sunlit valley at their feet

"Did you tell h a dream

He roused himself, and renance to speak of such things to the strange foreign woman had checked the words on his lips

"No--I hadn't the chance after all," he said, fibbing hastily

"Ah" She looked disappointed, but gently resolved on gaining her point "You must, then, for I didn't either; and I shouldn't like her to think--"