ingly on the young
man's shoulder--"they were made to step that dance together."

"But she said she would dance it with me!" he flung back--he did not
mean to be defrauded.

"Really?" It was wonderful how soft St. George's voice could be. Teackle
could not have handled a refractory patient the better.

"Well, that is," rejoined Willits, modified by Temple's tone--"she is to
let me know--that was the bargain."

Still another soft cadence crept into St. George's voice: "Well, even
if she did say she would let you know, do be a little generous. Miss
Seymour is always so obliging; but she ought really to dance the reel
with Harry to-night." He used Kate's full name, but Willits's head was
buzzing too loudly for him to notice the delicately suggested rebuke.

"Well, I don't see that, and I'm not going to see it, either. Harry's
always coming in between us; he tried to get Miss Kate away from me a
little while ago, but he didn't succeed."

"Noblesse oblige, my dear Mr. Willits," rejoined St. George in a more
positive tone. "He is host, you know, and the ball is given to Miss
Seymour, and Harry can do nothing else but be attentive." He felt like
strangling the cub, but it was neither the time nor place--nothing
should disturb Kate's triumph if he could help it. One way was to keep
Willits sober, and this he intended to do whether the young man liked it
or not--if he talked to him all night.

"But it is my dance," Willits broke out. "You ask him if it isn't my
dance--he heard what Miss Kate said. Here comes Harry now."

Like a breath of west wind our young prince blew in, his face radiant,
his eyes sparkling. He had entirely forgotten the incident on the stairs
in the rapture of Kate's kisses, and Willits was once more one of the
many guests he was ready to serve and be courteous to.

"Ah, gentlemen--I hope you have everything you want!" he cried with
a joyous wave of his hand. "Where will I get an ice for Kate, Uncle
George? We are just about beginning the Virginia reel and she is so
warm. Oh, we have had such a lovely waltz! Why are you fellows not
dancing? Send them in, Uncle George." He was brimming over with
happiness.

Willits moved closer: "What did you say? The Virginia reel? Has it
begun?" His head was too muddled for quick thinking.

"Not yet, Willits, but it will right away--everybody is on the floor
now," returned Harry, his eyes in search of something to hold Kate's
refreshment.

"Then it is my dance