The Major was alive, and likely to live at least for some hours, and the Rufford people generally were glad that they had not put off the ball.

Some of them who were staying in the house had already gone to bed, and Lady Penwether, with Miss Penge at her side, was making her last adieux in the drawing-room.

The ball-room was reached from the drawing-room, with a vestibule between them, and opening from this was a small chamber, prettily furnished but seldom used, which had no peculiar purpose of its own, but in which during the present evening many sweet words had probably been spoken.

Now, at this last moment, Lord Rufford and Arabella Trefoil were there alone together.

She had just got up from a sofa, and he had taken her hand in his.