Then it seemed to him that the world stopped until two the next day.

He went back to the ballroom, but its beauty had all departed--there was no soul in the music, no fragrance in the flowers.
"Colonel," he said, "I have had quite enough of the ball.

Are you ready for home ?" The colonel, who was quite satisfied with the result of the night's work, declared that he also was ready, and they went.
"A very pleasant ball," remarked the diplomatist, as they drove home.
"Was it ?" said Basil dreamily.

"I did not notice much--the only part of it I enjoyed was the conversation I had with Lady Lisle.

Ah, colonel, if the ladies of the present day resembled her, there would be some hope for chivalry." "God forbid," thought the colonel to himself.