So it happened that Donald’s first remark to Betty, as after the introduction he led her to a more or less secluded seat in the hall, in one of the recesses, was rather personal. “I came just in time,” said he, “for I heard another man asking for you right after I had received the card with your name.”
Betty smiled and said, “I didn’t know that any of the boys knew me.”
“It wasn’t any of the boys, it was an instructor.”
“O,” said Betty, “how glad I am that you—” then she caught herself before she could go any farther.
“I take it, then, that he is not any too popular with you?” Donald’s air was that of earnestly wanting to know about it, which surprised Betty, but pleased her.
“O, no!” she replied, “not if it is the one I think it is.”
“It was Captain Holley.”
“Yes, I thought it must be, for he is the only one I have met, but I do not know him well at all, and am surprised that he should ask for me. Probably he does not know any of the other girls and thought that I would do.” Betty was laughing.
“That must have been it,” said Donald, with sarcasm in his tone. “Say, I was watching you skate this afternoon and want to congratulate you on the well deserved honor you received.”
“I must return the compliment, then. But you are a real skater. I never saw anybody do the things you did in the contest except a professional skater.”