Miss Celia watched the scene with interest; she was anxious to see how the fusion of the antagonistic elements was to be accomplished. She was not kept long in suspense. Taking Lyman's arm Gay led him round the room, introducing him to each prim lassie, with contagious ease of manner. After Lyman it was Robert's turn, then Will's, and thus it went until all the boys had been introduced.
Five terrible minutes followed. The boys huddled together, looking as if they might leave at any moment en masse, like a flock of frightened sheep! The girls drew apart, looking as austere as merry maidens of twelve summers can look. This would never do! A bright idea seized Gay.
"Ethel, do the girls know how to play 'Going to Jerusalem'?" he asked, anxiously.
"Yes," she replied, "but I don't believe those boys do."
"Boys can play any game naturally; they don't need to know how," laughed Gay.
"How do you know so much about boys?" asked Ethel, quizzically.
"By instinct," replied Gay, soberly, but with laughing eyes.
It may not have been just the thing, but Gay electrified the company by exclaiming,—
"Please take partners for 'Going to Jerusalem'!"