I really think that after all we ought to turn it into a celebration." The band was playing a waltz.

Naida's head moved to the music, and presently Nigel rose to his feet with a smile, and they passed into the ballroom.

Karschoff and Mrs.Bollington Smith watched them with interest.
"Naida is looking very wonderful to-night," the latter remarked.

"And Nigel, too; I wonder if there is anything between them." "The days of foreign alliances are past," Karschoff replied, "but a few intermarriages might be very good for this country." "Are you serious ?" she asked.
"Absolutely! I would not suggest anything of the sort with Germany, but with this new Russia, the Russia of which Naida Karetsky is a daughter, why not?
Although they will not have me back there, Russia is some day going to lay down the law to Europe." "I wonder whether Maggie has any ideas of the sort in her mind," Mrs.
Bollington Smith observed.

"She seems curiously abstracted to-night." Chalmers came grumblingly up to Mrs.Bollington Smith, with whom he was an established favourite.
"Lady Maggie is treating me disgracefully," he complained.