"No," she said; "no."
He looked down at her in surprise. Never before had Little-Lovely Leila refused the offer of his valuable society.
"You sit beside—Delilah," she said, nervously, "She's really your guest."
"She is Porter's guest," he declared. "I don't see why you want to turn her over to me." Then as she endeavored to pass him, he caught her arm.
"What's the matter?" he demanded.
"Nothing," faintly,
"Nothing——" scornfully. "I can read you like a book. What's happened?"
But she merely shook her head and sat down, and then the bugle sounded, and the band began to play, and in came the cavalry—a gallant company, through the sun-lighted door, charging in a thundering line toward the reviewing stand—to stop short in a perfect and sudden salute.
The drill followed, with men riding bareback, men riding four abreast, men riding in pyramids, men turning somersaults on their trained and intelligent steeds.
One man slipped, fell from his horse, and lay close in the tan bark, while the other horses went over him, without a hoof touching, so that he rose unhurt, and took his place again in the line.