Nell of Shorne Mills

"Yes," he said, "if you like."

"All right," she said. "Yes, I should think we might go, Dick."

"I should think so!" he shouted. "Fancy chucking away the chance of a

dance!"

"How did they come to ask us?" Nell inquired. "We don't know them very

well," she explained to Drake. "The Maltbys are quite grand folk

compared with us; and, though Lady Maltby calls once in a blue moon, and

sends us cards for a garden party now and again, this is the first time

we have been invited to a dance."

"You have to thank me, young people," said Dick, with exaggerated

self-satisfaction. "I happened to meet young Maltby--he's home for a

spell; fancy he's sent down from Oxford--and he asked me to go rabbiting

with him. He's not much of a shot, though he is a baronet's son and

heir, and I rather think I put him up to a wrinkle or two. Anyway, the

other day he mentioned that they were going to have a dance--quite an

informal affair--and asked if I'd care to go; and Lady Maltby's just

sent a note."

"All right," said Drake.

Then he suddenly remembered his masquerade, and looked grave and

thoughtful. Yes, it was just possible that some one there might

recognize him.

"Who are the Maltbys?" he asked. "I never heard of them."

Dick's eyes twinkled.

"I can't truthfully say that that argues you unknown," he said; "for

they are very quiet people, and only famous in their own straw yard. Old

Sir William hates London, and he and Lady Maltby seldom leave the

Grange."

"There is no daughter, only this one son," explained Nell. "They are not

at all 'grand,' and I think you will like them. Lady Maltby is always

very kind, and Sir William is a dear old man, who loves to talk about

his prize cattle."

"Do you happen to know who is staying at the house?" asked Drake.

After all, perhaps, he would run no risk of detection; as he had never

met the Maltbys, it was highly improbable that they had heard of him.

"Oh, it's not a large party. I remember some of the names, because young

Maltby ran over them. He said there weren't enough in the house to make

up a dance. I shrewdly conjectured that that's one reason why we were

asked."

"Wise but ungrateful youth!" said Drake. "Let us hear the names."