CHAPTER XXVII.
EXCELSIOR The last words that Katie spoke as she walked down Mrs.Val's hall, leaning on Charley's arm, as he led her to the carriage, were these-- 'You will be steady, Charley, won't you?
you will try to be steady, won't you, dear Charley ?' and as she spoke she almost imperceptibly squeezed the arm on which she was leaning.

Charley pressed her little hand as he parted from her, but he said nothing.

What could he say, in that moment of time, in answer to such a request?
Had he made the reply which would have come most readily to his lips, it would have been this: 'It is too late, Katie--too late for me to profit by a caution, even from you--no steadiness now will save me.' Katie, however, wanted no other answer than the warm pressure which she felt on her hand.
And then, leaning back in the carriage, and shutting her eyes, she tried to think quietly over the events of the night.

But it was, alas! a dream, and yet so like reality that she could not divest herself of the feeling that the ball was still going on.
She still seemed to see the lights and hear the music, to feel herself whirled round the room, and to see others whirling, whirling, whirling on every side of her.

She thought over all the names on her card, and the little contests that had taken place for her hand, and all Charley's jokes, and M.de l'Empereur's great disaster; and then as she remembered how long she had gone on twisting round with the poor unfortunate ill-used Frenchman, she involuntarily burst out into a fit of laughter.
'Good gracious, Katie, what is the matter?
I thought you were asleep,' said Gertrude.
'So did I,' said Linda.