The next dance was the Virginia Reel. Here Florence had Linton for a partner, and Luke secured as his own partner a very good dancer. From prudence, however, he took his place at some distance from the head, and by dint of careful watching he acquitted himself as well as in the quadrilles.
"Really, Luke, you are doing wonderfully well," said Linton, when the dance was over. "I can hardly believe that you have taken but one lesson, and that from so poor a teacher as I am."
"I couldn't have had a better teacher, Lin," said Luke. "I owe my success to you."
"Didn't you say Luke couldn't dance?" asked Sam Noble of Randolph, later in the evening.
"He can't," answered Randolph, irritably.
"He gets along very well, I am sure. He dances as well as I do."
"That isn't saying much," answered Randolph, with a sneer. He could not help sneering even at his friends, and this was one reason why no one was really attached to him.
Sam walked away offended.
The party broke up at half-past ten. It was an early hour, but late enough considering the youth of the participants. Luke accompanied home one of the girls who had no brother present, and then turned toward his own home.
He had nearly reached it, when a tall figure, moving from the roadside, put a hand on his shoulder.