"I am shy," she said. "—And I don't want to dance with your cousin."
He did not scoff at her. He took her programme and scribbled his name across it.
"See," he said. "Whatever he asks you for, say you're dancing it with me. How will that do? Fill it in with any of the others, of course, just as you like; and let me know what I am booked for later."
He moved on in the swaying throng, distracted by somebody signalling to him, hailed on all sides, nodding to his friends. Other men were surrounding Susan. She could smile at them now, although Rackham was at her side.
"They're just finishing number one," he said. "Will you give me number two?"
"I am dancing it with my husband."
"Number three, then?"
"I am dancing it with my husband."
Another claimed her attention; she gave him a dance quickly. Kilgour, who could not get near her, held up five fingers to her above the bobbing heads in the crowd. She counted them gaily, putting down the number.
Rackham was still at her side, insisting, but her answer was the same. He looked at her queerly.