Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/19

 "Serves you right, Dennis," said the teacher.

"Well, I can't help it if it won't stick," Dennie answered. "Gee, I'll bite your old hand next time!" he muttered to Lucy.

She ignored him, and the rehearsal proceeded. Art entered next, with Mary Pearson on his arm. Mary dropped a courtesy, and Art bowed.

The teacher clapped her hands for the rehearsal to stop. "Oh, Arthur," she said, "don't bow as if you had a ramrod down your back!"

"Well, I feel's if I had," said Art.

"But don't act so!" the teacher laughed. "Now, try it again."

Art tried once more to put his hand on his breast, and bow gracefully, but he certainly felt like a fool in these clothes, and made a poor success of it.

"Boys are all clumsy," he heard Lucy whisper to one of the other girls.

After the guests had all arrived, they sang several old-time songs, and then four boys and four girls danced the minuet. Art didn't have to take part in this. He was supposed to sit and chat in the background, which was easy. After the minuet, however, everybody had to get up and dance a Virginia Reel. While they were in the middle of the dance, Peanut's galloping horse was heard; the dance stopped, the cry of "Whoa!" was shouted at the door, and Peanut, in clothes made dusty by sprin