"Yes, certainly; nothing shall prevent me from being present."
A faint color flickered over Elsie's cheek, as if this resolution implied a personal compliment, and an amused smile parted her lips.
"Then you like dancing?"
"That depends. At any rate I want to dance the first dance with you at your first ball."
Elsie laughed. "Very well. But though I have never been at a great ball, I have been at several soirées dansantes with Madame Davilliers. Whenever Antoinette went they kindly took me."
"And I suppose you are fond of dancing?"
"I love it," earnestly.
"Does your friend Vincent dance well?"
"I believe he does; most Americans do; but he is not my friend, and I cannot bear to dance with him."
"You receive him very well considering you do not like him."