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There was a slight hoarfrost that night, and the h not htness upon the fantastic figures of theband, whose plumes and ribbons rustled in their walk like autumn leaves Their path was not over Rainbarro, but down a valley which left that ancient elevation a little to the east The bottoreen to a width of ten yards or thereabouts, and the shining facets of frost upon the blades of grass seemed to move on with the shadows of those they surrounded The ht and left were dark as ever; a mere half-moon was powerless to silver such sable features as theirs

Half-an-hour of walking and talking brought therass riband widened and led down to the front of the house At sight of the place Eustacia who had felt a few passing doubts during her ith the youths, again was glad that the adventure had been undertaken She had coht possibly have the power to deliver her soul fro, but inadequate Perhaps she would see a sufficient hero tonight

As they drew nearer to the front of the house thewere briskly flourishing within Every now and then a long low note from the serpent, which was the chief wind instrument played at these times, advanced further into the heath than the thin treble part, and reached their ears alone; and next a more than usual loud tread from a dancer would coether, and were found to be the salient points of the tune called "Nancy's Fancy"

He was there, of course Who was she that he danced with? Perhaps some unknooman, far beneath herself in culture, was by thehis fate this very instant To dance with a ulation fire upon himent of an hour To pass to courtship without acquaintance, to pass toof terms reserved for those alone who tread this royal road She would see how his heart lay by keen observation of the co, and stood before the open porch The house was encrusted with heavy thatchings, which dropped between the upper s; the front, upon which the inally been white; but a huge pyracanth now darkened the greater portion