A BALL ROOM, AND A SELLE. 127 



ward in the first steps of the galloppe— it was that bril- 

 liant and favorite one from the postillion with the 

 clinking bells and cracking whip, and all the couples 

 were wheeling at their utmost speed — ^when down 

 came, leading and outstripping all the dance, Jardinier, 

 and merriest, prettiest, and sauciest of spirits. Carry 

 Free, and as they whirled round, the rough-dancing 

 as well as rough-riding, insolent peer came into rude 

 contact with Fairfax's belle unknown, and that so for- 

 cibly as to send her reeling back from her partner's 

 support. She slipped on the slippery floor, lost her 

 balance, fell — but, in an instant, almost before she 

 w^as off her equilibrium, the stout arm of Fairfax had 

 caught her, gently but steadily, round the waist, and 

 set her fairly on her feet, ere one flowing line of her 

 draperies was disordered. It was but a second, but 

 in that second her soft round shoulder had weighed 

 hard on his breast, and those silky, golden ringlets 

 had fanned his face, the fragrance — I know not what 

 it is, certainly not perfume — of highborn beauty had 

 penetrated his very soul. 



Perfectly self-possessed, desirous to avoid eclat, and 

 anxious to spare her the embarrassment of having 

 rested but for an instant in a stranger's arms, he re- 

 covered his place by his partner's side, and, as she 

 turned to see who had helped her, with thanks on her 

 tongue, intentionally bowed so low as to avoid her 

 eyes, sure more by instinct than by sight, that she 

 half curtsied, and the next moment was whirling 

 away with the brilliant Cheshire at a rate and with 

 an ea^e that showed him no novice in that graphic 

 dance. 



Panting as she was and out of breath, when they 

 paused, his dark enchantress, who had noted all that 

 passed, not unpleased, for she attributed his noncha- 

 lance, as she fancied it, to the impression she had 

 made upon him — not that she cared for him the nine- 



