like that cheek?

Then the music sent them away upon its wings and for a space measured by
the strains of "Roses Red" Richard Kendrick knew no more of earth. Not a
word did he speak to her as they circled the great room again and again.
He did not want to mar the beauty of it by speech--ordinary exchange of
comment such as dancers feel that they must make. He wanted to dream
instead.

"Look at Rob and Mr. Kendrick," said Ruth in Rosamond's ear. "Aren't
they the most wonderful pair you ever saw? They look as if they were
made for each other."

"Don't tell Rob that," Rosamond warned her enthusiastic sister-in-law.
"She would never dance with him again."

"I can't think what makes her dislike him so. Look at her face--turned
just as far away as she can get it. And she never speaks to him at all.
I've been watching them."

"It won't hurt him to be disliked a little," declared Mrs. Stephen
wisely. "It's probably the first time in his life a girl has ever turned
away her head--except to turn it back again instantly to see if he
observed."

"What would Forbes Westcott say if he could see them? Do you know he's
coming back soon? Then Rob will have her hands full! Do you suppose she
will marry him?"

"Little matchmaker! I don't know. Nobody ever knows what Rob is going to
do."

Nobody ever did, least of all her newest acquaintance. If he was to have
a moment with her after the dance he realized that he must be clever
enough to manage it in spite of her. He laid his plans, and when the
last strains of "Roses Red" were hastening to a delirious finish he had
Roberta at the far end of the room, at a point fairly deserted and close
to one of the gable corners where rugs and chairs made a resting-place
half hidden by a screen of holly.

"Please give me just a fraction of your time," he begged. "You've been
dancing steadily all the evening; surely you're ready for a bit of
quiet."

"I'm not as tired as I was before that dance," said she, and let him
seat her, though she still looked like some spirited creature poised for
flight.

"Aren't you really?" His face lighted with pleasure. "I feel as if I had
had a draught of--well, something both soothing and exhilarating, but I
didn't dare to hope you enjoyed it, too."

"Oh, yes, you did," said she coolly, looking up at him for an instant.
"You know perfectly well that you're one of the best dancers who ever
made a girl feel as if she had wings. Of course I knew you would b