Part 32 (1/2)

Then they paired off any way. Mr. Ed Saltonstall caught Cynthia's hand.

”I'm just dying to dance with you, and this is the basket quadrille.

Jordan dances like a pump handle, but he's a good fellow. Now let us have something worth while. I know you dance beautifully.”

”How do you know?” piquantly.

”I'd like to be nautical and impertinent, but I'm afraid you'd report me to Mr. Leverett. Oh, it's in you, in every motion. Aren't you glad you didn't live in those old Puritan days when you would have been put in the stocks if you had skipped across the room? Come.”

That _was_ dancing. Not a halt nor an ungraceful turn, but every curve and motion was as perfect as if they had danced together all their lives. She gave two or three happy sighs. Her cheeks were like the heart of a blush rose; she never turned very red when she ran or skipped, and never looked blowsy.

Another person watched and thought her the prettiest thing in the room, and was very glad she belonged to him.

”I'm sorry I have to dance with some one else and it's Lois Reade. Adams would like to kick me, I know, and she would be twice as happy with him.

That is the price you pay for a.s.sisting your brother into matrimony.

Next time there shall not be but one bridesmaid, and I'll dance with her all the evening.”

”Next time? Will he be married twice?” she asked demurely.

”Oh, you witch! You are the most delicious dancer--it almost seems as if you were sipping some very fine wine----”

”And it went to your head,” she laughed.

”Head and heels both. I'm extravagantly fond of it with a partner like you. You'll go to the a.s.semblies this winter?”

”Oh, I don't know.”

”Is Mr. Leverett very--he's your guardian, and somehow I stand just a little in awe of him. He is so polished, and knows so much, and is he going to be very exclusive?”

”Why----” She didn't quite understand, but she looked out of such lovely eyes that all his pulses throbbed.

”Take your places.”

She was standing there alone when Mr. Adams asked her. That was only fair play. Mr. Saltonstall was in the same set and he gave her hand a squeeze when he took her, crumpled it all up in his, and she flushed daintily.

He could not dance with her again until the very last. That was a ”circle” in which you balanced and turned your partner and went to the next couple, but some way you returned to your own. There were various pretty figures in it. Once or twice she was a little confused, but he seemed always on the watch for her.

The music stopped and the fiddlers were locking their cases. The dancers went out to the supper-room again.

”I'd rather dance than eat. I believe I could dance without music. Would you like to try?” he asked.

”Oh, no!” with a frightened look that made him laugh.

Mr. Leverett came, and Mr. Saltonstall was all polite deference. He wished he could be invited to call, but how was it to be managed?

Then Cynthia went upstairs to put on her cloak. The bride kissed her, and said she was glad to have had her, and when they gave their house-warming she must be sure to come.

”I've had such a lovely time. Thank you ever so much.”

”I'm the obliged one,” was the reply.