It seemed like a step in the right direction at last.

The great question was, with whom would Lord Airlie open the ball?
Every girl was on the qui vive.
The question was soon decided.

When Beatrice Earle entered the room, Lord Airlie went straight to meet her and solicited her hand for the first dance.

She did not know how much was meant by that one action.
He wondered, as he looked upon her, the queen of the most brilliant ball of the season, whether she would ever love him if it was within the bounds of possibility that she should ever care for him.

That evening, for the first time, he touched the proud heart of Beatrice Earle.