"You're a lovely dancer," the Syren resumed. "Reely, too--too--awfully nice for anything. Something quite beyond! But to think of your being tired! And here's me, a fragile girl, feelin', I declare, just as good as new, or rather better! Now, if you would like to go on again, I'm quite ready," and she drew herself up ready to relapse on the manly support of Randolph's arm the moment it should come behind her.
But it did not come. Randolph observed that it was very warm; "had they not better walk to the other end of the room?--they might be able to find ice there, or something to drink;" and he led her round the outskirts of the dancers. The dancers were all intently engaged, disporting themselves some more and some less deftly, but all as best they could, and Betsey eyed them enviously, glancing reproachfully on her beau.
And then there passed them a pair which drew the eyes of both, it passed them so easily, so lightly, so swiftly, like a curl of blue smoke across a wooded hillside, and it was flown, like the crotchets and semi-quavers in a bygone bar of the tune--a waft upon the air, they passed so lightly, passed like the music, leaving but the memory of glancing smiles as the music leaves a sense of sweetness when it has ceased.
"Was that not Muriel went by just now, and Gerald Herkimer?" asked Betsey.
"I think so," said Randolph, with just a tone of sulky disgust in his voice.
"I wonder at Penelope and Matilda bringing a child like that to a ball like this. It's real bad for young children bringing them forward so soon--just tempts people to think them old before their time; and if Muriel takes after her aunts, she'll have plenty time for parties before she marries, even if she came out three years late in place of three years too soon. I doubt if she is fourteen yet."
"Oh, yes, she will be sixteen next July, she told me so herself."
"A great age. But still she shouldn't be here to-night at a grown-up dance."
"This is a juvenile party. Miss Bunce."
"Muriel is the only juvenile I see, and she seems to be carrying on just like one of the grown-ups--all but the frock. She has on a short frock, I'll admit that, and I don't see another in the room but her own."