dances engaged, either. So run and dance, and
have a nice time together."

Thereupon this disastrous woman returned to her husband. Her look was
conscientious; she thought she had done something pleasant!

The full horror of his position was revealed to William in the relieved,
confident, proprietor's smile of Miss Boke. For William lived by a code
from which no previous experience had taught him any means of escape.
Mrs. Parcher had made the statement--so needless and so ruinous--that
he had no engagements; and in his dismay he had been unable to deny this
fatal truth; he had been obliged to let it stand. Henceforth, he was
committed absolutely to Miss Boke until either some one else asked her
to dance, or (while yet in her close company) William could obtain an
engagement with another girl. The latter alternative presented certain
grave difficulties, also contracting William to dance with the other
girl before once more obtaining his freedom, but undeniably he regarded
it from the first as the more hopeful.

He had to give form to the fatal invitation. "M'av this dance 'thyou?"
he muttered, doggedly.

"Vurry pleased to!" Miss Boke responded, whereupon they walked in
silence to the platform, stepped upon its surface, and embraced.

They made a false start.

They made another.

They stood swaying to catch the time; then made another. After that they
tried again, and were saved from a fall only by spasmodic and noticeable
contortions.

Miss Boke laughed tolerantly, as if forgiving William for his
awkwardness, and his hot heart grew hotter with that injustice. She was
a large, ample girl, weighing more than William (this must be definitely
claimed in his behalf), and she had been spending the summer at a
lakeside hotel where she had constantly danced "man's part." To paint
William's predicament at a stroke, his partner was a determined rather
than a graceful dancer--and their efforts to attune themselves to each
other and to the music were in a fair way to attract general attention.

A coarse chuckle, a half-suppressed snort, assailed William's scarlet
ear, and from the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Joe Bullitt
gliding by, suffused; while over Joe's detested shoulder could be seen
the adorable and piquant face of the One girl--also suffused.

"Doggone it!" William panted.

"Oh, you mustn't be discouraged with yourself," said Miss Boke,
genially. "I've met lots of Men that had trouble to get started