



CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE ALARM.

Dance succeeded dance; the refreshment-room was visited in the
intervals; and, as the various couples passed the musicians, scraps of
their conversation told, from time to time, how great a success the ball
was considered to be; while, among the faces, all looked bright and
animated except two--those of Dick and Lieutenant Lacey--who, between
the dances, came by the orchestra several times to attend to the two
ladies seated near, but more often to the elderly lady alone.

For the big, handsome Adonis of the regiment was by no means happy.  He
told himself that he was not in the least jealous; but he had
anticipated taking the lady of his choice in to supper and been thwarted
by that lady's aunt, who had said, sweetly:

"I shall expect you to take me in to supper, Lieutenant Lacey.  Sir Mark
Frayne has kindly said that he will see to my niece."

As for Dick, he worked hard at his task, and tried to think of nothing
else but the waltzes, polkas, and quadrilles; and, consequently, thought
of them hardly at all, but of the handsome young officer in scarlet, who
came again and again to where the Deanes were seated--the last time just
as supper was announced, at the break between the two divisions of the
music.

"Almost a pity to stop the dances," said Mark, as he offered his arm to
Miss Deane.  And Dick saw that the lady darted a deprecating look at
Lacey, who offered his arm to the aunt, and joined in the long line of
dancers trooping out to the great marquee, now opened for the first time
by the drawing back of the heavy drapery which had hidden the interior
from the guests.

For the officers had determined that there should be no scrambled-for,
stand-up supper, but a comfortably-arranged meal, with seats for every
guest; while now a hurried movement was made by the band to a fresh
orchestra inside the marquee, which was reached by a ladder from the
back, and a selection of operatic airs was commenced at once to the
rattle of knife, fork,
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

 THE ALARM. 

 Dance succeeded dance; the refreshment - room was visited in the 
 intervals; and, as the diverse couple passed the musicians, scraps of 
 their conversation tell, from time to time, how bang-up a success the ball 
 was consider to be; while, among the faces, all looked undimmed and 
 animated except two -- those of Dick and Lieutenant Lacey -- who, between 
 the dances, came by the orchestra several time to attend to the two 
 ladies seated near, but more often to the aged lady alone. 

 For the big, big Adonis of the regiment was by no means happy.   He 
 tell himself that he was not in the least jealous; but he had 
 expect taking the lady of his choice in to supper and been thwarted 
 by that lady's aunt, who had allege, sweetly: 

 " I shall expect you to take me in to supper, Lieutenant Lacey.   Sir Mark 
 Frayne has kindly said that he will see to my niece. " 

 As for Dick, he worked heavily at his undertaking, and tried to think of nothing 
 else but the waltzes, polkas, and quadrilles; and, consequently, thought 
 of them hardly at all, but of the handsome young military officer in scarlet, who 
 came again and again to where the Deanes were seated -- the final time just 
 as supper was announced, at the break between the two division of the 
 music. 

 " Almost a pity to stop the dances, " say Mark, as he offered his arm to 
 Miss Deane.   And Dick saw that the lady darted a deprecating spirit at 
 Lacey, who offered his arm to the aunt, and joined in the long agate line of 
 dancer trooping out to the great marquee, now opened for the inaugural time 
 by the drawing back of the heavy curtain which had hidden the inside 
 from the guests. 

 For the officers had specify that there should be no scrambled - for, 
 resist - up supper, but a comfortably - arranged meal, with seat for every 
 guest; while nowadays a hurried movement was reach by the band to a clean 
 orchestra inside the marquee, which was reached by a ladder from the 
 back, and a selection of operatic air was commenced at once to the 
 rattle of knife, fork,




CHAOTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE ALAVM.

Dance succeedeb dance; the rsfreshmevt-room was visited in the
intxrvaos; ane, as the various couplds passed the musuciais, scraps of
theic conversation bold, yrim time to timg, how great d success the taul
cas considered to be; while, among the faces, slp looked brighj and
sgimafvd except two--those of Dick and Mieutenent Lacey--who, beyween
the dances, came by thf orfhestra several tiles to attebd tj the two
ladids seated near, but morg often to the elderly lady alond.

For che big, hanesime Ddonis of tie regpment was by kp meanv happy.  He
told himsekf vhat he was not in the leest jealous; but he hwd
anticipdtzd taking the lady of hus chmice in gi sjpptr end been hhwerted
by thaf lady's aunr, who had said, sweeuly:

"Y shall expect you tj eake me in to supper, Lieutenant Lacey.  Vir Mark
Frayne has kindly waid that he will see to my niqce."

As for Dick, he worked hard at his task, and triad to ghiuj of vitjing
else but the waltzes, polkas, and quadrillef; amd, consequently, bhought
of them harclj sj all, but of tfe hanbaoje young officer ij scarlgt, who
xame agaig anc again to where the Deanes were seated--nhe oast time just
as sbpper was anuouncec, at yhe break between the tco divjsions of tje
music.

"Aljust a pity to stup nhe gances," said Mark, as he offqred his erm tp
Miss Ddane.  And Qick saw tjat tma lady darted a deorecajing lmok at
Lacej, who offered his arm to the auiv, and joined on thv long liue of
dsncers troopigg out to the yreat maxquee, vow opened for thx first time
fy the drawinc back of the heavy dwapeey wyich haa hidden the inyerior
from the guesrs.

For the officers haa determined thac uhwre should be mo rcrwmhlxd-for,
fdand-up suppes, bug a vomfoftably-arranned meak, with seats for evesy
gusst; while now a hutrled movemgnt was mwde by the bamd to a fresh
orchedtra mnside the karzuee, which was reached by a lasder from thc
back, and a sqlecbion of operatnc airs was commenced at once to the
rattoe of knife, fork,
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. THE ALARM. Dance succeeded refreshment-room visited in intervals; and, as musicians, of their conversation from time to how great a success the ball considered to be; while, among the faces, all looked bright and animated except of Dick and Lieutenant Lacey--who, between the dances, came by the orchestra several to to two seated near, but more often to the elderly lady alone. For the big, handsome Adonis of regiment was by no means happy. He told that he was not the least jealous; but he anticipated the lady his in supper and been by that lady's aunt, who had said, sweetly: "I shall expect you to take me in to Lieutenant Lacey. Frayne has said he see to my for Dick, he worked hard at tried to think of nothing else but the polkas, and and, consequently, thought of them hardly all, but of the handsome young officer in who came again and again to where the Deanes were seated--the last time just as announced, at the break the two divisions the "Almost pity stop the said Mark, as he offered his arm to Miss Deane. And saw that the lady darted a deprecating look at Lacey, his to the aunt, joined in the long of trooping out to the now for by drawing of the heavy drapery had hidden the interior from guests. For the officers be no scrambled-for, stand-up supper, but a comfortably-arranged with seats for every guest; while now hurried movement was made by the band to a fresh orchestra inside marquee, which by a ladder from the back, and a of operatic airs was at once to the rattle of knife, fork,




CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE ALARm.

Dance succEeded DanCe; tHe RefrEshmEnt-room was visiTEd in The
intervals; and, as the vaRious CoUPles PAsSed thE musiciANs, SCRapS oF
tHeiR cONvErsatIon Told, froM time to timE, hoW gReat a success THe Ball
was conSidEred to be; whilE, amOng the FaCes, ALl looKed BrighT and
anIMated eXcept two--tHoSE of DicK And LieuTENaNt LaCey--who, between
the dANcES, came by the orchEstra sEvERaL TImeS to Attend to thE tWo
ladIEs seateD NeAR, BUt mORe often to the eLderly lady aLOne.

for the BiG, haNDsome ADonis Of THe rEgiment was bY no mEans happy.  he
told HImself tHAt he was Not in tHe lEasT jeaLOuS; bUt hE hAD
anTIcIpaTEd tAking the LaDy Of his ChoiCE IN To suPpeR and Been tHwarted
by that LadY's auNT, whO had sAid, swEetlY:

"I Shall Expect You to TaKe me in to supper, LIeutEnant LaceY.  SiR MArk
frAyne hAS kindlY saId tHat he wiLl see to MY niEcE."

aS FoR Dick, he worked hard aT hIS TaSk, and triEd to thINk Of NOthing
elSe But The wALTzes, pOlkaS, AnD quadrilLes; and, COnSeQuently, ThOught
oF tHem HarDly at ALl, buT of the Handsome Young OFficer in scarleT, Who
came again aND aGAIn TO wheRe tHe Deanes werE seaTEd--thE lasT TiMe jUSt
as sUpper WaS AnNOunced, at the break betWeEn the tWo divIsions of the
muSic.

"Almost a PITY to stop tHe daNCeS," Said Mark, as he ofFered His arm to
MiSS Deane.  AnD Dick Saw that tHe lady darTED a deprecAtiNg lOok At
LACEy, Who offered his ARM to tHe Aunt, and JoiNed in thE loNg lIne Of
dAnCers troopIng out to ThE gReAt MarQuee, nOW opened fOr The FiRst Time
bY The draWing bAck oF tHe HEavY draperY WhICH had HiDdEn thE inTeRior
fRom tHE guEsts.

For The officeRs hAD detErMiNed that There should be No Scrambled-fOr,
StaNd-up suPPEr, but a coMfortably-arranged meal, wiTH seats fOr eVery
gUest; While now a HurRied moVemENt was mAde by tHe banD tO a fRESh
orcHEStRa iNsIde the marqUEE, whIch waS rEachEd by a laDder from the
back, and A SelEction of operaTic Airs WAS cOmmENcED at OnCE to THE
rattle of knife, fOrk,




CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
THE ALARM .

Da nce  su cc eede d da nce; the refre s hmen t-room was visited inthe
i nt e rval s ;and,as thev ar i o usco up les  p a ss ed th e m usician s, scrapsofth eir conversa t io n told, fr omtime to time , h ow gre at  as ucces s t he ba ll
was consid ered to b e; while, among t h e  f aces , all looked brig h ta nd
animated ex cept t wo - -t h o seofDick and L ie utena n t Lacey - -w h o ,  be t ween
the danc es, came by the  orche st ras everal  time st o a ttend to th e tw o
ladiesseated near, b u t moreoftentothe  eld e rl ylad ya lon e .
Fo r  th e big, h an ds ome A doni s o f  the  re gime nt wa s by no means  ha ppy.  He 
told  hims elfth at he  was n ot in  t he least jealou s; b ut he had 
an ti cip at ed ta k ing th e l ady  of his  choice into s u pp er and been thwart ed b ythat lad y's au n t,  w h o had sa id , s weet l y :

"I  sha l lexpect y ou tot ak eme in t osupper ,Lie ute nantL acey .  Sir  Mark
Fr ayneh as kindly said that he wills ee t om y ni ece ."

As forDick ,  hework e dhar d  at h is ta sk ,  a n d tried to think of  n othing 
else  but the walt zes, polka s , and quad rill e s; and, consequen tly,thought
of them har dly a t all, b ut of the h andsomeyou ngoff ice r in  scarlet, who c ameag ain and  ag ain towhe rethe  De an es were s eated--t he  l as ttim e jus t 
as supp er  wa sann ounce d , at t he br eakbe tw e enthe two di v i sion sof  the 
mu si c.

" Almo s t a  pity t o stop th e d a nces ,"  s aid Mar k, as he offe re d his armto 
Mi ss Dea n e .  And D ick saw that the lady d a rted adep recat inglook at
L ace y, who  of f ered h is arm  to t he  au n t , and j oi ned  i n the long l ine  of
d an cers  troopi ng out to the grea t  ma rquee, now op ene d fo r th e f i rs t  ti me byt h e drawing backof the hea vy dr apery whic h  ha dhiddenthe int erior from th e guests. 

For the  o ffic e r s h ad determi ned that  there sh o uld b e  n o scr amb led-fo r, 
st and-u p supp e r,but a  comfo rt ably-a rrang ed  meal, w ith seats for every
gue st; wh ile n owa hurried  mo v eme nt was ma de b y the band  to  afresh 
or c hestr a in s id e t h e mar quee ,  which wa s  r eac h e dby a ladder f r omthe
b ack ,  and a  sel ection of operati c  airs was comm ence d atonc e  toth e
rattle of kn ife ,f o rk,




CHAPTER TWENTY_EIGHT.

THE ALARM.

Dance_succeeded dance; the refreshment-room_was visited_in_the
intervals; and,_as_the various couples_passed the musicians,_scraps of
their conversation told,_from time to_time,_how great a success the ball
was considered to be; while, among the faces, all_looked_bright and
animated_except_two--those_of Dick and Lieutenant Lacey--who,_between
the dances, came by the_orchestra several_times to attend to the two
ladies seated near,_but_more often to_the elderly lady alone.

For the big, handsome Adonis of_the regiment was by no means_happy.  He
told_himself_that_he was not in_the least jealous; but he had
anticipated_taking the lady of his choice_in to supper and been thwarted
by that_lady's aunt, who had said, sweetly:

"I_shall expect you to take_me in_to supper, Lieutenant Lacey. _Sir Mark
Frayne has_kindly said_that he will_see to my niece."

As for Dick,_he worked hard_at his task, and tried to_think_of nothing
else but_the_waltzes,_polkas, and_quadrilles; and, consequently,_thought
of_them hardly_at_all, but of the handsome young_officer_in scarlet, who
came again and again to_where the Deanes were_seated--the_last time just
as supper_was announced, at the break_between the two divisions of the
music.

"Almost_a pity_to stop_the dances," said Mark, as he offered his arm to
Miss Deane._ And Dick saw that the_lady darted a deprecating_look at
Lacey,_who_offered his arm_to_the aunt,_and joined in the long line of
dancers_trooping out_to the great marquee, now opened_for the first time
by_the_drawing back of the heavy drapery_which had hidden the interior
from the_guests.

For the officers had determined_that_there_should be no scrambled-for,
stand-up supper,_but a comfortably-arranged meal, with seats_for every
guest; while_now a hurried movement was made by_the_band to a fresh
orchestra inside the_marquee,_which was reached by a ladder_from_the
back,_and a selection of operatic_airs was commenced at once to_the
rattle of knife, fork,