Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/216

206 and hopped down from her perch and disappeared with Tommy Blake inside the house.

"Oh, that's fine!" exclaimed Mr. Park, abruptly interrupting his own argument. "Have some dancing, you young people. Go into the music-room, roll up the rugs, and have some dancing."

Reba's heart contracted. Could it be worse? The glare of lights! And dancing! True enough, she did help Katherine Park in the simple instruction of the modern steps at the Alliance every noon, but that was different. She had, moreover, covertly taken private lessons with a Miss Boutwell at a fashionable Back Bay hotel, so as to make herself more adept as an instructor. But Miss Boutwell was not a man. Reba had never danced yet with a man. Oh, she couldn't try it for the first time, here—now!

Could she not escape somehow? Weren't there some back-steps somewhere? There were concealing shrubs enough about the house where she could hide herself till the music stopped, if she could once get off the veranda. But how? Where? The couples were rapidly pairing off. Katherine already had been borne away by one of the college men. Reba looked about her desperately.

Then suddenly she became aware of a tall figure before her, and a voice politely inquiring, "Won't you try this with me?"

Of course it was he! Of course it was Dr. Booth! Of course Fate would be as cruel as it possibly could!

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at it," Reba stammered.

"I'm sure you are," he assured her politely.

"I'm not, really."