So the talk went around. Judith, all unconscious of having attracted attention, shook hands gaily with the old men and all but kissed them in her joy, and promised to dance with every one of them and immediately had her card filled with trembly-looking autographs.
“Won’t you dance, Mrs. Buck?” suggested Colonel Crutcher, but Mrs. Buck declined with agitated blushes, declaring her health was too feeble for such carryings-on.
“Well, I’m going to put you in a front seat so you won’t miss anything and then Miss Judy can sit by you when she is not dancing. That’s all right, I’ll get some of your church members to keep you company.”
Colonel Crutcher conducted mother and daughter across the ballroom and, much to the confusion of Mrs. Buck, placed them next to Miss Ann Peyton. That lady was seated in solitary grandeur, Big Josh having departed to look up other members of the family.
“Miss Peyton, this is a little friend of mine I want to introduce to you, Miss Judith Buck, and her mother, Mrs. Buck.”
Miss Ann bowed with what might be called gracious stiffness, and moved her skirts a fraction of an inch to make room for Judith.
Mrs. Buck was thankful that some church 158 friends were found by whom she might sit and be as inconspicuous as possible. She would have been frightened beyond words if she had been forced to sit by Miss Ann Peyton. Not so Judith! The girl looked levelly into the old woman’s eyes and then sat down.
“I want to thank you for the toilet water you sent to me by my servant. It was very kind of you,” said Miss Ann.
“I loved to do it.”
“Why did you?”