"Mr. Leighton," said the voice of George Maclean, "won't you spare Elma for this dance?"
They turned round to look at him.
"Elma wants to stay with me," said Mr. Leighton gravely, putting his arms round her.
"Hph!" said Aunt Katharine in an undertone. "It's another Miss Grace, sure enough."
"Why don't you go and dance?" asked Adelaide Maud of Elma.
There were her two ideals, Miss Grace and Adelaide Maud, crossing swords as it were with one another. And there was George Maclean waiting at the window of the drawing-room. A Strauss waltz struck up inside, one which she loved. Ah, well, there were several kinds of fights in the world. She felt in some inscrutable way that it was "weak" to stay with her father.
She went in with George Maclean.
Mr. Leighton pulled up a chair for his wife, as the others, including even Aunt Katharine, faded from the balcony.
"I take this as an omen, they are all leaving us," he said in a sad manner.
Mrs. Leighton sighed gently. "We did the same ourselves, didn't we, John?"