As if to give proof to his words, a merry one-step reached them from the after deck and Lucile sprang to her feet, looking toward her escort invitingly.
“We can’t miss this,” she said, with conviction.
Young Ridgely looked as if he could miss it with great pleasure, but he followed her to the after deck, nevertheless.
“Will you go back again after the dance?” he pleaded, as they joined the others. “We were having such a good talk.”
“Perhaps,” she half promised, with a tantalizing little laugh, and a moment after was swept off into the dance by Archie, who had been seriously considering organizing a search party. 136
“You were away a mighty long time,” he reproached her. “What were you doing all the time with that Ridgely guy?”
“I shouldn’t call him a guy; he’s a very nice fellow,” said Lucile, demurely. “Besides, we were only admiring the view.”
“Huh!” grunted Archie, unconvinced. “I dare say he found the view very interesting,” he added, meaningly.
“Doubtless he did, since he wants to go back and look at it all over again,” she said, wickedly; then, to change the subject, “Doesn’t Jessie dance wonderfully? I never saw such an improvement in any one.”
“Yes, she dances well, but she can’t touch you; nobody can.”