“You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful what you say, or you’ll make me feel very unhappy.”
Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little squeeze.
“Don’t be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn’t make you unhappy for the world. But surely you’re going to dance?”
Dorothy shook her head.
“Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I shouldn’t enjoy it, and—there are other reasons. This is all so new and strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women—the lights, the music, everything—it is as if I had stepped into another world; something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never expected to see.”
“Why, you dear girl, I’m not going to dance either, then.”
“Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must.”
“I couldn’t be so selfish as to leave you here all alone.”
“It isn’t selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely here. I don’t really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my dream, with just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall suddenly wake up, rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room.”
Katherine pinched her.