“I am glad to see you here, Mr. Walton,” said the hostess, graciously.  “Oscar, I depend upon you to introduce your friend to some of the young ladies.”

“You forget my diffidence, Mrs. Clinton.”

“I didn’t know you were troubled in that way.’”

“See how I am misjudged.  I am painfully bashful.”

“You hide it well,” said the hostess, with a smile.

“Escort my sister to a seat, Harry,” said Oscar.  “By the way, you two will dance in the first Lancers.”

“If Miss Maud will accept so awkward a partner,” said Harry.

“Oh, yes, Mr. Walton.  I’ll give you a hint if you are going wrong.”

Five minutes later Fletcher touched Oscar on the shoulder.

“Oscar, where is your sister?” he asked.

“There,” said Oscar, pointing her out.

Fletcher, who was rather near-sighted, did not at first notice that Harry Walton was sitting beside the young lady.

He advanced, and made a magnificent bow, on which he rather prided himself.

“Good-evening, Miss Vincent,” he said.

“Good-evening, Mr. Fletcher.”

“I am very glad you have favored the party with your presence.”

“Thank you, Mr. Fletcher.  Don’t turn my head with your compliments.”

“May I hope you will favor me with your hand in the first Lancers?”

“I am sorry, Mr. Fletcher, but I am engaged to Mr. Walton.  I believe you are acquainted with him.”

Fletcher for the first time observed our hero, and his face wore a look of mingled annoyance and scorn.

“I have met the gentleman,” he said, haughtily.

“Mr. Fletcher and I have met frequently,” said Harry, pleasantly.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here,” said Fletcher with marked emphasis.

“Probably not,” said Harry.  “My invitation is due to my being a friend of Oscar’s.”

“I was not aware that you danced,” said Fletcher who was rather curious on the subject.

“I don’t—­much.”

“Where did you learn—­in the printing office?”

“No, in the city.”

“Ah!  Indeed!”

Fletcher thought he had wasted time enough on our hero, and turned again to Maud.

“May I have the pleasure of your hand in the second dance?” he asked.

“I will put you down for that, if you desire it.”

“Thank you.”

It so happened that when Harry and Maud took the floor, they found Fletcher their vis-a-vis.  Perhaps it was this that made Harry more emulous to get through without making any blunders.  At any rate, he succeeded, and no one in the set suspected that it was his first appearance in public as a dancer.

Fletcher was puzzled.  He had hoped that Harry would make himself ridiculous, and throw the set into confusion.  But the dance passed off smoothly, and in due time Fletcher led out Maud.  If he had known his own interest, he would have kept silent about Harry, but he had little discretion.