Before three bars of music had been played they knew that they suited one another. Their bodies moved together as if impelled from one common nerve centre. They were well matched in height and appearance; and a better-looking couple never trod the floor of a ball-room.

Sybil gave herself up to the enjoyment of the dance, and lent herself to the intoxication it caused her. She felt that she could go on for ever. Fond

as she was of dancing, never had she enjoyed one so much as this. When Tom asked her if she would like to stop, she replied: "No, no; keep on as long as you can," and, as his arm tightened round her in response, she nestled closer to him.

Just before the music ceased she trod on a piece of tulle and slipped. For a second her feet went from under her, and she would have fallen, but Tom's arm, like a band of steel, supported her, and, as he held her to him, their faces just touched.

"Well saved," she whispered smiling. take me away."

"Now

They went into one of the conservatories and sat down in a retired alcove.

"Mr. Marston, you are the best dancer I know. I should like you always to come up and ask me to dance before any one else at any ball we meet."

"And will you give me a dance if I do?"

"Yes, certainly.'

"Very well, that is an agreement," and Tom held out his hand.

Sybil turned her eyes on his and laid her hand on his and clasped it. Her eyes seemed to attract him like a magnet; at the same time her hand seemed to be gently drawing him towards her until he could scarcely resist the inclination to clasp her in his arms. She remained looking at him for some seconds, and his infatuation was complete. Then she turned away her eyes and released his hand.

It was near the end of the evening, and the ball

room was getting thinned. The Marston Towers party were collected together and discussing the propriety of going. When the band struck up the last dance, Vita turned to Tom and said: "Will you dance this with me?" But Tom scarcely heard what she said. He was looking at Lady Sybil, who was standing on the opposite side of the room and signalling to him with her fan.

"Wait a moment," he replied, and immediately walked across the room to Sybil. In another instant he was whirling her round the room, while Vita stood and watched them.

her.

"Don't lose this, Vita," said Rupert's voice beside

"Not for worlds," she replied with a smile of gratitude, and they were soon following in Tom's and Sybil's footsteps.

As soon as they got into the carriage, Vita said: "You will have to wait a long time before I ask you to dance with me again, Master Tom."

"Vita, I am very sorry, I did not quite understand at the time that you were asking me to dance," said Tom.

"You understood very quickly when Sybil Challenger asked you, though it was done with a wave of the fan. How I do hate that girl. Do you think she is pretty?" she asked, turning to Rupert.

"Yes; I think she is a fine piece of goods."

"I suppose you think her the loveliest woman in existence; don't you, Tom?"

"I certainly think she was the most beautiful girl there to-night."'

"She is a red-headed pig; that's what I think of her. You may say her hair is auburn, or bronze, or chestnut, or anything you like. I call it carroty, and her skin is just like a scalded pig." And everybody laughed at Vita's vehemence.

As Tom was wishing Vita "Gocd-night," he said: "Forgive me for not dancing the last dance with you.

I would not, intentionally, disappoint you for anything." And he leant to kiss her; but Vita put up both her hands and held his face.

"Tell me, Tom. You did not kiss Sybil to-night, did you?"

"Kiss Sybil! Certainly not. What put such foolish ideas into your head?"

"Well, promise me, promise me that you will never kiss me after you have kissed her."

Tom felt inclined to be angry; but two tears trembling on the brink of Vita's eyelids arrested his anger, and folding her in his arms he kissed her tears away, and said: "I promise you."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

SAMSON AND DELILAH

Toм went to bed to dream that he was taking part in a tournament where Lady Sybil was the Queen of Beauty, and that, after many gallant achievements on his part, she rewarded him with her love.

He awoke in an excited frame of mind, and after a late breakfast, feeling disinclined to join in the conversation that was taking place between Vita, Rupert, and Mrs. Forbes on the subject of the ball, he went down to the stables, and ordering a horse, went for a solitary ride.

The horse that was saddled for him was a queertempered brute, and required watching. It had a mouth like iron; it shied at the trunk of every tree along the avenue; and was very much inclined to bolt; it was as full of oats as it could stick, and wanted to give trouble. Its mood exactly suited Tom. He was soon engrossed in the question as to who was

to be master, and all thoughts of Sybil Challenger were dismissed.

He turned into a green lane where there was a capital piece of turf for a gallop, and let his horse go. The lane terminated at a five-barred gate, leading into a large field. The horse was excited, and would have liked to have balked the jump; but Tom had it well in hand, and driving in his spurs, the horse cleared the obstacle as easily as though it had been a three-foot hurdle. The course now led across country, and for some three or four miles Tom went in a straight line, his horse jumping every fence without a hitch, finally landing, through a stiff bull-finch, on the high road, pretty well blown.

Within ten yards of where he came out, was Lady Sybil Challenger, also riding. Her horse was standing still, for she had been watching Tom's wild ride, and wondering what was the cause of it.

Directly Tom saw her, he thought fate had brought him there, and all his old restless feelings returned. "Good gracious, Mr. Marston. Are you escaping from some great danger?" Sybil asked.

"On the contrary. I think I am running into it." "What do you mean?"

"I slept very badly last night and had some strange dreams, which excited me. So I thought I would go for a good ride and shake off the effects of them- Which way are you going? Will you let me accompany you?"

did

And they walked their horses along the road.
"Pray what was the subject of your dreams?"
"You were."

Really; this is becoming interesting. And what you dream about me?"

Perhaps you would not like to hear!"

"It is my own fault if it is anything unpleasant, as I am asking for the information."

"I dreamt that you loved me," answered Tom,

looking Sybil straight in the eyes-a look which she unflinchingly returned.

"And did that produce such an unpleasant effect that you wanted to escape from it?" she asked, after a pause.

My dream produced rather a maddening effect, as would, I have no doubt, your love itself."

Why do you say that?"

"I think that, ordinarily, people come together by chance as they are floating down the river of life, and like two pieces of drift in an ordinary stream, which chance or some unseen eddy brings together, they accept the situation and drift placidly along until they are launched in the ocean of eternity. They may get separated before reaching the ocean, or one may arrive before the other; but for a long period they keep together, go through the same scenes and vicissitudes, and have no inclination to part. That represents the ordinary existence of a good many people. I should say that, in your case, the placid stream would be turned into the rapids of Niagara; and he must be a bold and courageous swimmer who would face that seething torrent to secure you, and a strong hand who would hold you through all the whirlpools and eddies, the rocks, and dangers he would have to pass before you stood together on the shore of the jasper

-

"You I have reason to know-are a bold and courageous swimmer," said Lady Sybil, looking down.

There was a silence. "Should he accept the challenge?"-for it amounted to that-Tom asked himself. He knew scarcely anything of this lovely girl, but that her beauty fascinated him. Such rumours of her character, as had reached him, were invariably unfavourable. Vita, who knew her well, hated her, and she was not popular with any one.

But then her beauty was undeniable. It had an