It need not be said that, in the state of mind in which he was, John stayed till the last moment, and presented himself to Miss Wamphrey just as she was following her chaperon to the door, holding together a dress which had been slightly damaged in the rapidity of a last reel. There was a glance of battle in his eyes as he came up to her, with a reminder that this was his dance, which kindled an immediate response in hers.
"I cannot stay another moment, May," said the chaperon, crossly. Marion shrugged her pretty shoulders, with a look which spoke volumes of repugnance, and reluctance, and scorn, and made John furious.
"I cannot break my word to this gentleman, if he insists upon it," she said.
"Seeing I have held on all these hours, and not gone to sleep," said John, with something savage in his tone, "only for this."
There was a last dreary quadrille being formed, and she gave her hand and allowed herself to be led to it, to fill up a side place. They stood side by side in silence for a moment, and then Marion said—
"It is very noble on your part, Mr Percival, to hold out so long. I am so sorry to have been the means of breaking your night's rest."
"It is not the first time, Miss Wamphrey," he said.
"Not the first time! This is too much of a compliment. We are not accustomed in the country to have such pretty things said to us."
"There was nothing so far from my intention as saying a pretty thing," said John.
"This is more and more tremendous, Mr Percival! It was an ugly thing, then, you meant to say?"