eks used to dress like that."

"They did! Then it didn't take 'em long. Brazen thing! Why!" with a
sudden turn upon his daughter, "Gertie--Gertie Dott, stop fussin' with
that book and listen to me. You were there; I saw you lookin' on. YOU
didn't like that Greek dancin', did you?"

Gertrude hesitated. Her cheeks were red and, for a moment, she seemed to
find it difficult to speak. Then, after a quick look at her mother, she
answered, calmly:

"Like it! Why not, Daddy? It is all the rage, just as Mother says,
and it is certainly graceful. I rather think I should like to learn it
myself. I understand Miss Dusante gives lessons."

Daniel's mouth opened and remained open. Cousin Percy stared at the
speaker. Even Serena, defender of the dances of the ancient Greeks,
looked shocked.

"Why, Gertie!" she cried. "Gertie! You! the idea!"

"Why not, Mother?"

"Why not! I should think you would know why not. I never heard you speak
like that before."

"I never saw any dances like those before. I have heard about them,
of course, but I never saw them. We never did--you or father or any of
us--a great many things that we are doing now. We are learning all the
time; that's what you told me, Mother. I never went to a Bohemian 'At
Home' before."

Serena's eyes snapped. "Well, you'll never go to another one," she
declared, "if it's going to have this effect on you."

The young lady smiled. "Why, of course I shall," she cried. "I want to
learn, just as you do, Mother. And I mean to. Good-night!"

She left the room and they heard her ascending the stairs. Daniel and
Serena looked at each other. Cousin Percy looked at them both.

Captain and Mrs. Dott had a long talk before retiring. The captain
derived some satisfaction from the talk; it seemed to him that their
daughter's declaration of independence had startled Serena somewhat. She
even went so far as to admit that, in spite of Mrs. Black's explanations
and gracious commendations, she, herself, had not been impressed by Miss
Canby's guests. She and Gertrude would have an interview in the morning,
she declared.

Captain Dan waited hopefully for the result of that interview. The hope
was crushed when Serena reported to him.

"It is all right, Daniel," said Mrs. Dott. "I guess Gertie didn't
really mean what she said about taking lessons of the Dusante woman.
She thought the dances graceful, and they were, of course. But Gertie is
older now--yes, she is older, and she expec