"My dress is caught," she said, turning to conceal her face, and pretending to pull at her skirt. "I hope my slippers haven't damaged the piano."
"The piano is harder than my heart if they haven't!"
She gave a sly twitch at a hairpin.
"That is very pretty," observed she, giving her head a shake that brought her hair down in a rolling billow. "Oh, dear! Now my hair has"—
Before she could finish he had dropped her fingers, and gathered her hair in both hands, kissing it again and again.
"Mr. Rangely!" she exclaimed. "What do you mean?"
For reply he stooped to her foot, and kissed the mesh-clad instep fervidly.
"How dare you!" she cried, scrambling down hastily without his assistance.
But, alas, even trickery is not always successful in this uncertain world! The hold of the piano upon the hem of her gown was stronger than she realized. She tripped and stumbled, half-hung for a second, and then dropped in an inglorious heap at the feet of the man she wished to humiliate.
Elsie was on her feet in a minute. She did not take the hand which
Rangely extended, but drew back, her eyes sparkling with rage.