Part 8 (1/2)

”I'll see to them,” was her son's careless reply, and he crossed over to Murray, who was indifferently playing his part of young host. To him, as Jane and Peter appeared at the doorway, Forrest made a hasty explanation.

Murray's face instantly brightened, and he answered promptly: ”It was a risky thing to do, but I 'm glad they 're here. Between us we 'll make sure they have a good time.”

There was nothing in the greeting of Mrs. Townsend or of Olive to give Peter and Jane a hint of their position. The Bells had expected only a formal reception on an occasion like this, and when they received it, felt no special lack. And whatever was wanting in the greeting of the hostesses was made up by the masculine half of the receiving party.

”This is jolly,” said Forrest, giving each a hearty grasp of the hand.

”'I 'm immensely glad you could come,” and as others pressed toward him, he pa.s.sed them on to Murray.

”Do you know,” said Murray, ”having you two come to-night makes up to me for the whole thing. I detest parties, as a rule, never go to them, and would n't come downstairs at our own affairs if I could get out of it.

But I 'm glad I could n't--this time--. See here, you don't know many of these people, do you?”

”n.o.body at all.”

”Of course not--having only just moved into the neighbourhood. I can't do much myself except sit about and look on, and I 'm going to be so bold as to beg your company, Miss Bell, for so much of the evening as you 'll give me. There are a lot of pleasant nooks about the rooms and halls, and I 'd like to try them all with you. That's a selfish plan, is n't it?” and he smiled at her.

”It's lovely of you, of course, and you know it,” she answered.

”It's a risk for me, lest I lose you, but I 'll present a few of these chaps to you, first, so if you care to dance----”

”I don't--truly.”

”I 'm glad. But I 'll do it, for the sake of my conscience,” and Murray began the task on the spot.

Half a dozen youths accordingly bowed ceremoniously to Jane, gazed with interest at her charming face, said something or other in the way of an attempt at conversation, and got away again. Not one asked Jane to dance.

”She needs Olive's guardians.h.i.+p, not mine,” thought Murray, resentfully.

”If Olive backed her up, the rest would accept her in a jiffy. But Olive won't do it--I know that well enough,--so I 'll do my best in my way, and thank my stars for the chance. There is n't a girl in the house to match her, that's sure.”

The moment that his duties in the reception-room were over Murray convoyed Jane away to one of the attractive retreats he had mentioned, a beflowered nook on the staircase landing, from which they could view the hall below, and see the greater part of the long drawing-room, where the dancing had begun. Strains of gay music from the orchestra floated pleasantly up to them.

”Now this is something like!” said Murray, sinking back upon the soft divan behind the palms. He pulled off his gloves as he spoke, rolled them into a ball and crammed them into his pocket. He did not put them on again that evening--a bit of kindliness which two guests understood and appreciated.

”If I 'm not monopolising the host when he ought to be looking after his other guests,” replied Jane, as her eyes followed the distant dancers.

”If there is any monopoly, I 'm the guilty one--and enjoying my guilt.

Honestly, Miss Bell, it's a fine chance for me to get acquainted with my neighbour, if she 'll let me. And as for my being missed--” A shake of the head told Jane more than its owner meant of his loneliness, at which she had hitherto only guessed.

Meanwhile, Peter had also fallen into friendly hands, if youthful ones.

s.h.i.+rley, allowed to play a modest part in the affairs of the evening, but finding n.o.body willing to give her more than a smile and nod, fell upon Peter as a possible ally. He had been standing at one side of the crush, in the doorway of the drawing-room, looking on with interested eyes, but feeling a trifle deserted, nevertheless, when he felt a warm little hand slide into his own. Looking down, surprised, he met s.h.i.+rley's friendly smile.

”You don't know many people, do you?” asked that frank young person.

”I don't know anybody,” returned Peter. ”No, I ought not to say that, for your brother Forrest presented me to a number of girls. But I don't know how to dance, and they soon left me for livelier company.”

”'n.o.body asks me to dance, either,” said s.h.i.+rley, ”because Olive would n't invite any boys of my age, and the big ones want the big girls.”

”I don't,” Peter a.s.sured her. ”I want one about thirteen years old, dressed in a jolly white lacy frock, with pink ribbons and pink slippers. I feel more at home with a girl like that than with any of those I was introduced to. You see, their hair was so--done up!”