"Are you going to dance, Hilda?"
"Apparently not," she answered gayly.
"Give me this, won't you?"
"Oh, you don't need to. Why, where are Mildred and Clover?"
"They are sitting over yonder. They have many friends here. It seems to me this is rather a peculiar way for you to treat my invitation."
"No, Jack," said Page, with a heart-rending sigh. "The old man will have to dance once. 'Let it be soon,' as the song says. Come, my love, weary and footsore, let us tread the dreamy maze together."
"Robert really wants to dance," said Hilda to Van Tassel confidentially. "The music inspires him. I haven't the heart to refuse. Thank you. Perhaps later we can have a turn."
"Now, wasn't that sweet of Jack and exactly like him?" asked Hilda, when they had drifted in among the floating couples. "He was afraid you were going to be immovable; and the very first dance, when of course you would suppose he would ask Mildred"—
"Or Mrs. Van Tassel, according to your theories."
"My dear, I am shaken on my theories. I may have been wrong. I hope I have been. What do you think, Robert?"