"  You  think  so  ?  "

"Of  course  I  do;  but  then,  you  see,  I  never
saw  a  real,  big  ball  before.  Do  you  think  they
are  all  like  that  ?  "

"  To  girls  like  you,  yes,  and  I  suppose  to  men
like  me."

"  But  there  are  so  few  men  like  you."

Romney's  eyes  looked  a  question.
£C  So  persistent  and  so  jealous  and  so  — dear—"

With  this  Peggy  pulled  the  ring  off  her  finger
and,  tossing  it  lightly  toward  the  lad,  whispered,  —

332


A  Birthnight  Ball

"  Catch  !  and  keep  it  if  you  can  !  It  is  my
birthday  gift.'*

cc  I  take  the  dare  and  I  take  the  gift,  and  I  will
yet  take  something  else.  So  there,  Peggy  !  "

But  ere  he  had  finished  she  had  vanished  up
the  stairway  and  the  ball  was  over.
333


CHAPTER   XXI

A    ROOTED    SORROW

BEFORE    the    last    guest    had    taken    his
departure    from    Romney    the    red    sun
came  bobbing  up  across   the  river  and
shot  his  rays  in  at  the  window.
