ok hands with her.

"Won't you sit down?" she said; and Pennie having edged herself on to
one of the high leather-covered chairs against the wall, she left her
and returned to the group by the fire.

Pennie examined them.

"That must be Ethel," she thought, "and the tallest is Joyce, and the
two with frocks alike must be Katharine and Sabine. It isn't nice of
them not to take any notice of a visitor. We shouldn't do it at home."

Presently other children arrived, and then Miss Lacy, the governess,
joined them. She went up to Pennie and asked her name.

"Why, of course," she said, "I ought to have remembered you. Ethel,
come here and talk to Penelope. You two are just the same age, I
think," she added as Ethel turned reluctantly from the group near the
fire.

Pennie was very tired of hearing that she and Ethel were just the same
age, and it did not seem to her any reason at all that they should want
to know each other. Ethel, too, looked unwilling to be forced into a
friendship, as she came listlessly forward and sat down by Pennie's
side.

"Are you fond of dancing?" she inquired in a cold voice.

"I don't know," said Pennie, "I never tried. I don't think I shall be,"
she added.

Ethel was silent, employing the interval in a searching examination of
her companion, from the tucker in her frock, to the strapped shoes on
her feet. She had a way of half-closing her eyes while she did this,
that Pennie felt to be extremely offensive. "I don't like her at all,"
she said to herself, "and if she doesn't want to talk to me, I'm sure I
don't want to talk to her."

"We've always been taught by Miss Lacy," said Ethel at last, "but of
course it's much better to have a master."

"I should like Miss Lacy best," said Pennie; and while Ethel was
receiving this answer with another long stare, Monsieur Deville was
announced.

The dancing-master was tall and slim, with a springing step and a very
graceful bow; his sleek hair was brushed across a rather bald head, and
he had a long reddish nose. He carried a small fiddle, on which he was
able to play while he was executing the most agile and difficult steps
for the benefit of his pupils. On that day, and always, it was
marvellous to Pennie to see how he could go sliding and capering about
the room, never making one false note, nor losing his balance, and
generally talking and explaining as he went. He spoke English as though
it had been his native tongue, and inde