She stopped and turned as she heard her name spoken. Mrs. Parker approached, accompanied by a young man, whom she introduced.
It was Gene Skelding.
“The dancing is about to begin,” said Mrs. Parker. “Gene is my nephew, Elsie.”
Then, in a very clever manner, she practically asked Elsie to give Gene Skelding the first waltz.
Now, Elsie did not care to dance with Skelding, but she could not refuse under the circumstances, and Bart Hodge was filled with dismay, chagrin, and anger when he saw the fellow bear Elsie away toward the drawing-room on his arm. She glanced back over her shoulder, but he had seen her turn, and he pretended to be deeply interested in another direction.
This was a disappointment to Elsie, for she had intended to indicate to him by a look that she was not pleased with the arrangement, which she had been unable to avoid.
Skelding was triumphant. For a long time he had admired Elsie Bellwood, but, being outside Merriwell’s set, he had not succeeded in making her acquaintance.
When he chose, Skelding could converse pleasantly, and he exerted himself just now to be agreeable. In fact, he exerted himself so much that he came near overdoing it.
When they reached the drawing-room, the dancing had begun. It was with great satisfaction that Shielding glided onto the floor with Elsie, brushing past Frank Merriwell, who was still surrounded by several pretty girls.