out and the cut roses within
mingled incongruously with the alien odors of musk and hair oil, of
which several young barbers in the company were especially redolent.
There was a play of sparkling eyes and glancing feet. Mary B. danced
with the languorous grace of an Eastern odalisque, Mis' Molly with the
mincing, hesitating step of one long out of practice. Wain performed
saltatory prodigies. This was a golden opportunity for the display in
which his soul found delight. He introduced variations hitherto
unknown to the dance. His skill and suppleness brought a glow of
admiration into the eyes of the women, and spread a cloud of jealousy
over the faces of several of the younger men, who saw themselves
eclipsed.

Rena had announced in advance her intention to take no active part in
the festivities. "I don't feel like dancing, mamma--I shall never
dance again."

"Well, now, Rena," answered her mother, "of co'se you're too dignified,
sence you've be'n 'sociatin' with white folks, to be hoppin' roun' an'
kickin' up like Ma'y B. an' these other yaller gals; but of co'se, too,
you can't slight the comp'ny entirely, even ef it ain't jest exac'ly
our party,--you'll have to pay 'em some little attention, 'specially
Mr. Wain, sence you're goin' down yonder with 'im."

Rena conscientiously did what she thought politeness required. She
went the round of the guests in the early part of the evening and
exchanged greetings with them. To several requests for dances she
replied that she was not dancing. She did not hold herself aloof
because of pride; any instinctive shrinking she might have felt by
reason of her recent association with persons of greater refinement was
offset by her still more newly awakened zeal for humanity; they were
her people, she must not despise them. But the occasion suggested
painful memories of other and different scenes in which she had lately
participated. Once or twice these memories were so vivid as almost to
overpower her. She slipped away from the company, and kept in the
background as much as possible without seeming to slight any one.

The guests as well were dimly conscious of a slight barrier between
Mis' Molly's daughter and themselves. The time she had spent apart
from these friends of her youth had rendered it impossible for her ever
to meet them again upon the plane of common interests and common
thoughts. It was much as though one, having acquired the vernacular of
his native c