"I am thinking," said Jimmy.

"Of course she has been away from home a great deal," went on Alfred.

"She's been in school in the East; but there were the summers."

"So there were," assented Jimmy, thinking of his hitherto narrow

escapes.

"Her father is old John Merton," continued Alfred. "Merton the

stationer--you know him, Jimmy. Unfortunately, he has a great deal of

money; but that hasn't spoilt her. Oh no! She is just as simple and

considerate in her behaviour as if she were some poor little struggling

school teacher. She is the one for me, Jimmy. There is no doubt about

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it, and I'll tell you a secret."

Jimmy looked at him blankly.

"I am going to propose to her this very night."

"Good Lord!" groaned Jimmy, as if his friend had been suddenly struck

down in the flower of his youth.

"That's why you simply must come with me to the hop," continued Alfred.

"I want you to take care of her friend Aggie, and leave me alone with

Zoie as much as possible."

"Zoie!" sniffed Jimmy. The name to him was as flippant as its owner.

"True, strong name," commented Alfred. "So simple, so direct, so like

her. I'll have to leave you now," he said, rising. "I must send her some

flowers for the dance." He turned at the door. Suppose I add a few from

you for Aggie."

"What!" exploded Jimmy.

"Just by way of introduction," called Alfred gaily. "It's a good idea."

Before Jimmy could protest further, he found himself alone for the

second time that day. He ate his roast in gloomy silence. It seemed dry

and tasteless. Even his favourite desert of plum pudding failed to rouse

him from his dark meditations, and he rose from the table dejected and

forlorn.

A few hours later, when Alfred led Jimmy into the ballroom, the latter

was depressed, not only by his friend's impending danger, but he felt

an uneasy foreboding as to his own future. With his college course

practically finished and Alfred attaching himself to unforeseen

entities, Jimmy had come to the ball with a curious feeling of having

been left suspended in mid-air.

Before he could voice his misgivings to Alfred, the young men were

surrounded by a circle of chattering females. And then it was that Jimmy

found himself looking into a pair of level brown eyes, and felt himself

growing hot and cold by turns. When the little knot of youths and

maidens disentangled itself into pairs of dancers, it became clear to

Jimmy that he had been introduced to Aggie, and that he was expected to

dance with her.




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