72 HARK FORRARDf 



and Acton could not help looking for one woman 

 alone. They had not long to wait, as Miss 

 Lancelot, who was valsing with Foxhall Sharpe, 

 came past them before they had been a minute 

 in the room. 



' There is Miss Lancelot,' said Mrs. Danby ; 

 ' does not she dance well ? ' 



Mrs. Danby was right this time and no 

 mistake, as it was acknowledged in all New 

 York and Washington ballrooms that Lina 

 Lancelot was far and away the best dancer in 

 the country. She managed to stop close to 

 them, and Mrs. Danby's observant eyes made a 

 very shrewd guess at the situation as far as 

 Miss Lancelot and Reginald Miller were con- 

 cerned. 



She was, however, considerably puzzled at 

 Reginald's omitting to ask Lina to dance, and 

 when a few minutes afterwards she herself was 

 dancing with him, she proceeded (as ladies will 

 sometimes do) to pump him. 



' I should recommend you to secure a dance 

 with Miss Lancelot as soon as you can,' said 



