"It is awful when a girl falls in love in five minutes!" he mentally soliloquized. "I wonder if I have satisfied Miss Meadowsweet now? I do honestly think I have done my duty by Miss Matty Bell."
So he conveyed the gushing young person back to her sisters, and sought for Beatrice who was once more frank and friendly, but gave him excellent reasons for not dancing with him.
At this moment Catherine came up and touched her brother. Her cheeks had a bright color in them, she looked animated and happy.
"Loftus, it is close on twelve o'clock. We must go home. Look at Mabel," she added, seeing her brother hesitate, "she is frightfully sleepy. Mother never allows her to be up so late. We have had a happy evening," continued Catherine, looking full into Miss Meadowsweet's face, "and we are very much obliged to you. Now I must go and say good-night to your mother."
She tripped away, and Beatrice looked after her with affectionate eyes.
"It is unkind of you not to give me one dance," said the captain.
She had forgotten his presence.
"It is not unkind," she said. "The dancing is altogether an impromptu affair, and I had to attend to my guests. I was talking to your sister, Catherine, who did not care to dance."
"Very ungenerous to me," pursued the captain. "A poor return for all my efforts to please you."
"Your efforts—pray, what efforts?"