Part 15 (2/2)
The pa.s.sengers, he told Clementina, were getting up, at this point of the s.h.i.+p's run, an entertainment for the benefit of the seaman's hospital in Liverpool, that well-known convention of ocean-travel, which is sure at some time or other, to enlist all the talent on board every English steamer in some sort of public appeal. He was not very clear how he came to be on the committee for drumming up talent for the occasion; his distinction seemed to have been conferred by a popular vote in the smoking room, as nearly as he could make out; but here he was, and he was counting upon Miss Claxon to help him out. He said Mrs. Milray had told him about that charming affair they had got up in the mountains, and he was sure they could have something of the kind again. ”Perhaps not a coaching party; that mightn't be so easy to manage at sea. But isn't there something else--some tableaux or something? If we couldn't have the months of the year we might have the points of the compa.s.s, and you could take your choice.”
He tried to get something out of the notion, but nothing came of it that Mrs. Milray thought possible. She said, across her husband, on whose further side she had sunk into a chair, that they must have something very informal; everybody must do what they could, separately. ”I know you can do anything you like, Clementina. Can't you play something, or sing?” At Clementina's look of utter denial, she added, desperately, ”Or dance something?” A light came into the girl's face at which she caught.
”I know you can dance something! Why, of course! Now, what is it?”
Clementina smiled at her vehemence. ”Why, it's nothing. And I don't know whether I should like to.”
”Oh, yes,” urged Lord Lioncourt. ”Such a good cause, you know.”
”What is it?” Mrs. Milray insisted. ”Is it something you could do alone?”
”It's just a dance that I learned at Woodlake. The teacha said that all the young ladies we'e leaning it. It's a skut-dance--”
”The very thing!” Mrs. Milray shouted. ”It'll be the hit of the evening.”
”But I've never done it before any one,” Clementina faltered.
”They'll all be doing their turns,” the Englishman said. ”Speaking, and singing, and playing.”
Clementina felt herself giving way, and she pleaded in final reluctance, ”But I haven't got a pleated skut in my steama trunk.”
”No matter! We can manage that.” Mrs. Milray jumped to her feet and took Lord Lioncourt's arm. ”Now we must go and drum up somebody else.” He did not seem eager to go, but he started. ”Then that's all settled,” she shouted over her shoulder to Clementina.
”No, no, Mrs. Milray!” Clementina called after her. ”The s.h.i.+p tilts so--”
”Nonsense! It's the smoothest run she ever made in December. And I'll engage to have the sea as steady as a rock for you. Remember, now, you've promised.”
Mrs. Milray whirled her Englishman away, and left Clementina sitting beside her husband.
”Did you want to dance for them, Clementina?” he asked.
”I don't know,” she said, with the vague smile of one to whom a pleasant hope has occurred.
”I thought perhaps you were letting Mrs. Milray bully you into it. She's a frightful tyrant.”
”Oh, I guess I should like to do it, if you think it would be--nice.”
”I dare say it will be the nicest thing at their ridiculous show.”
Milray laughed as if her willingness to do the dance had defeated a sentimental sympathy in him.
”I don't believe it will be that,” said Clementina, beaming joyously.
”But I guess I shall try it, if I can find the right kind of a dress.”
”Is a pleated skirt absolutely necessary,” asked Milray, gravely.
”I don't see how I could get on without it,” said Clementina.
She was so serious still when she went down to her state-room that Mrs.
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