But now we must be making ready for the serious matters of the evening.

Mr.Orme, you dance, of course.

Are you a married man--but what a question for me to ask--of course you're not!" Orme smiled, showing his long, narrow teeth.

"I've been a bit busy for that," he said; "but perhaps my time has come." "It surely has," said Kitty Stevenson.

"I've offered to wager Mr.Cowles anything he liked that he'd be engaged before twelve o'clock.