She shrank together a little. "I think we had better go in," she said. "The dance will begin presently."
He got up and gravely offered her his arm. "Miss Valliant, you are going back soon to Leichardt's Town. Will you allow me to call upon you and your mother?"
"Yes, certainly," she answered, and added, "We live on Emu Point."
They walked towards the house. Before they reached the verandah, Elsie stopped and faced him. "I am very sorry for what I said to you this evening," she said impulsively. "I hope you will forget it."
"I am afraid that I can't promise to do that," he answered.
"Then at least you will not remind me of it."
"Ah! that of course I can promise. As far as lies in my power I will try not to remind you of it."
"Thank you. I think that I will sit down here. If you see Mr. Frank Hallett will you tell him where I am?"
He left her. She had not long to wait. Frank Hallett was walking up and down with Lady Horace, and he had seen her come back with Blake. They both came to her.
"Elsie," Ina said, "what is the matter?"
"Nothing," said Elsie. "Why?"
"You look scared somehow."
"I think it must be because I have been seeing ghosts," said Elsie, tremulously.
"Ghosts!" repeated Lady Horace.
Elsie did not answer.
"It must have been the effect of the moonlight in the garden," said Hallett. "Those pyramids of rhynca-sporum do look rather like white ghosts."
Elsie burst into a laugh.
"How like you that speech was! You are really a very comforting person. You always find a natural and reasonable explanation for all one's vagaries, for all one's stupid superstitious fancies."
"I am glad," he said gravely, "that you find me a com-
