This duty over, there was a slight feeling of uncertainty as to what should be done next. The three ushers had arrived and had been presented. Every one sat down and began to talk rather stiffly, but this did not suit Jack’s ideas of getting acquainted. “Do let’s be jolly,” she cried looking around upon the rather seriously disposed group. “Mrs. Bobs, won’t you laugh, please? Mr. St. Nick, you look as solemn as an owl. Mr. Kirk, won’t you say something funny?”
“Jack!” he exclaimed.
“What?”
“You wanted me to say something funny, and I don’t know anything funnier than you are.” This brought the laugh Jack had demanded, and she was satisfied even though it was at her expense.
“Let’s have a dance,” proposed Nan. “I’ll play for you all.”
This delighted Jack. “Everybody must dance. We’ll have a reel, Nan, or ‘Pitch in Tucker.’ Let’s have that first. Come on, Mr. St. Nick, you’ve got to dance with me.”
“I? Heaven forbid that I should make a spectacle of myself.”
“But that is silly, you know, to feel that way. I have seen much stouter persons dance. Didn’t you ever do ‘Pitch in Tucker’?”
“Away back in the dark ages, perhaps; in the days of my slender youth.”
“But you haven’t forgotten?”