o _comfortable_. When I've known you a little longer
I expect I'll be calling you Charming Billy, or else Billy Boy. If
you'll stick close to me all through this dance and come every time I
lift my eyebrows this way"--she came near getting kissed, right then,
but she never knew it--"and say it's _your_ dance and that I promised
it to you before, I'll be--_awfully_ grateful and obliged."

"I wisht," said Billy pensively, "I had the nerve to take all this for
sudden admiration; but I savvy, all right. Some poor devil's going to
get it handed to him to-night."

For the first time Miss Bridger blushed consciously. "I--well, you'll
be good and obliging and do just what I want, won't you?"

"Sure!" said Billy, not trusting himself to say more. Indeed, he had
to set his teeth hard on that word to keep more from tumbling out.
Miss Bridger seemed all at once anxious over something.

"You waltz and two-step and polka and schottische, don't you?" Her
eyes, as she looked up at him, reminded Billy achingly of that time
in the line-camp when she asked him for a horse to ride home. They had
the same wistful, pleading look. Billy gritted his teeth.

"Sure," he answered again.

Miss Bridger sighed contentedly. "I know it's horribly mean and
selfish of me, but you're so good--and I'll make it up to you some
time. Really I will! At some other dance you needn't dance with me
once, or look at me, even--That will even things up, won't it?"

"Sure," said Billy for the third time.

They paced slowly, coming into view of the picnic crowd, hearing
the incoherent murmur of many voices. Miss Bridger looked at him
uncertainly, laughed a little and spoke impulsively. "You needn't do
it, Mr. Boyle, unless you like. It's only a joke, anyway; I mean,
my throwing myself at you like that. Just a foolish joke; I'm often
foolish, you know. Of course, I know you wouldn't misunderstand or
anything like that, but it _is_ mean of me to drag you into it by the
hair of the head, almost, just to play a joke on some one--on Mama
Joy. You're too good-natured. You're a direct temptation to people who
haven't any conscience. Really and truly, you needn't do it at all."

"Yuh haven't heard me raising any howl, have yuh?" inquired Billy,
eying her slantwise. "I'm playing big luck, if yuh ask me."

"Well--if you _really_ don't mind, and haven't any one else--"

"I haven't," Billy assured her unsmilingly. "And I really don't mind.
I think I--kinda like the pr