“Genelmen to right—cheat an’ swing!” the boy cheated outrageously, cheated all but his little partner, to whom each time he turned with open loyalty, and Hugh was openly sneering now and genuinely angry.
“You shall have the last dance,” whispered Barbara, “the Virginia reel.”
“I know that dance,” said the boy.
And when that dance came and the dancers were drawn in two lines, the boy who was third from the end heard Harry’s low voice behind him:
“He is my cousin and my guest and you will answer to me.”
The lad wheeled, saw Harry with Hugh, left his place, and went to them. He spoke to Harry, but he looked at Hugh with a sword-flash in each black eye:
“I don’t want nobody to take up for me.”
Again he wheeled and was in his place, but Barbara saw and looked troubled, and so did Colonel Dale. He went over to the two boys and put his arm around Hugh’s shoulder.