"Of course, you must know him. Are you in with him? He tells me that they own pretty much everything that is good in that region. They are about to open a new mine that is to exceed anything ever known. Ferdy tells me I am good for I don't know how much. The stock is to be put on the exchange in a little while, and I got in on the ground-floor. That's what they call it--the lowest floor of all, you know.
"Yes; some people call it the ground-floor," said Keith, wishing to change the subject.
"You know there may be a cellar under a ground-floor," observed Mr. Stirling, demurely.
Keith looked at him, and their eyes met.
Fortunately, perhaps, for Keith, some one came up just then and claimed a dance with Mrs. Lancaster. She moved away, and then turned back.
"I shall see you again?"
"Yes. Why, I hope so-certainly."
She stopped and looked at him.
"When are you going away?"
"Why, I don't exactly know. Very soon. Perhaps, in a day or two."