"So do I, John. I wish I were more like her myself in unselfish interest in people."
"She has done you great good already, Kenneth."
"Yes, I know."
Then a shadow darkened Kenneth's face. He moved toward the outer door that stood open, and looked out into the night.
At last Esther's task was accomplished, the babe was asleep, and she returned to the scene of the dancing. Kenneth sought her and asked her to dance the next waltz with him. She assured him, also, that she did not dance.
"Let me teach you," he urged. But she shook her head.
"You do not approve of dancing?" he asked, lifting his brows.
"I did not say I do not approve of dancing; I said I do not dance. By the way," she said, changing the subject of the conversation, "my lessons in riding are to begin to-morrow, are they not?"
"To-morrow, if I may have the pleasure. Do you think riding wicked, too?"
This he said with a sly twinkle in his eye.