Bobby didn’t think so, either, and with an effort he kept from “talking back” to Tim. Everyone went downstairs and Mrs. Gordon announced that they would have a Virginia reel first.
“Everyone can dance that,” she said. “I’ll play for you. And you must keep your partners for the first game.”
To Meg’s surprise, and small pleasure, Tim Roon asked her to dance with him. She wanted Bobby for her partner for she did not know how to dance well, but Meg was a polite little girl and she did not know how to refuse Tim without offending him. She did not enjoy the reel very much, though, for Tim was clumsy and stepped on her feet often and besides he tormented her by twitching her hair-ribbon whenever he thought no one would see him.
“Now we’re going to play a game,” announced kind Mrs. Gordon when the dance was finished. “Keep the same partners you had for the reel, children. All sit on the floor in a circle, and close your eyes. I am going to pass something around and let you guess what it is by smelling it.”
The children sat down in a circle, Tim on one side of Meg, Charlie Black on the other. Mrs. Gordon went around back of them and held a small bottle for each one to smell. Such wild guesses! Fred Baldwin thought it was camphor, and Bobby was sure it was cologne.
“I think it’s vinegar,” said Meg when her turn came.
She had guessed it and she guessed the next test, also, which was a pickle cut up in tiny bits so that each child had a taste. If you think you can tell a pickle every time, try it some day when your eyes are closed and you have not seen what you are going to eat.
“We’ll let Meg test you for the sense of touch,” said Mrs. Gordon, smiling. “Give them something of yours to feel, Meg, and see if they can guess what it is.”
Without hesitation, Meg unclasped her locket and passed it around the circle. No one could guess what it was. Tim Roon was the last to handle it and finally he “gave up.”
“It was my locket,” explained Meg dimpling. And then Mrs. Gordon said they would play another game.