"About a year. I have seen him in Halifax frequently, and we are the greatest friends, I assure you. Damon and Pythias were nothing to us!"
"It is something new for Mr. Blake to be so enthusiastic, then. Pythias is a new rôle for him. I hope he played it better than he did Robert Bruce in that horrid tableau awhile ago."
They both laughed at the recollection. Natty scented her rose.
"Some one threw me this. Gallant, wasn't it? I love roses."
"Sweets to the sweet! I am only sorry I had not something more worthy 'Evangeline,' than that poor little flower."
"Then it was you. I thought so! Thank you for the rose and the compliment. One is as pretty as the other."
She laughed saucily, her bright eyes flashing a dangerous glance at him. Next instant they were floating round, and round, and round; and Captain Cavendish began to think the world must be a great rose garden, and Speckport Eden, since in it he had found his Eve. Not quite his yet, though, for the moment the waltz concluded, a dashing and dangerously good-looking young fellow stepped coolly up and bore her off.
Val having given his partner a finishing whirl into a seat, left her there, and came up, wiping his face.
"By jingo, 'tis hard work, and Catty Clowrie goes the pace with a vengeance. How do you like Natty?"
"'Like' is not the word. Who is that gentleman she is walking with?"