Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/66

 THE FIGHTING SHEPHERDESS

" There's a place, Kate — on the side, too, so you have only to watch what the others do."

She hesitated, but he could see the longing in her eyes.

He taunted boyishly, " Don't be a ' fraidy cat,' " at which for the first time they both laughed with some- thing of naturalness.

Mr. Scales of the Emporium and his plump bookkeeper were there, and the willowy barber with the stylish oper- ator of the new telephone exchange, while Mr. and Mrs. Neifkins made the third couple, and Hugh and Kate completed the set.

There was an exchange of looks as the pair came up. The stylish operator lifted an eyebrow and drew down the corners of her mouth. The bookkeeper said, " Well ! " with much significance, — but it remained for Mrs. Neifkin to give the real offense. The expression on her vapid face implied that she was aghast at their im- pudence. Gathering the fullness of her skirt as though to withdraw it from contamination she laid the other hand on her husband's arm:

" There's a place over there, Myron, where we can get in.

" It's nearer the music," said Neifkins with an apologetic grin to the others.

Those who stayed had something of the air of brazen- ing it out. In vain Mr. Butefish called sternly for, " One more couple this way ! "

It was Scales of the Emporium who said, finally:

" Looks like we don't dance — might as well sit down."

Every one acted on the suggestion with alacrity save Kate and Hughie. When he turned to her, he saw that she was swallowing hard at the lump that was choking her.

" It's on account of me that they act so, Hughie ! You stay if you want to ; I'm going."

50