“Of course.”
“And some of your ladies?” he smiled.
“All of them.” Up went her head again.
“I wonder that you were ever conquered?”
“Conquered! We were not conquered.” She looked it, as she stood there in the moonlight. Middleton had a sudden thrill that it would be worth his life to win such a girl, and she had never given him even one friendly glance. He could not help thinking,
“What would Thurston say?”
A partner came and claimed his set, and Middleton was left outside. He sat for a moment thinking how lonely her departure had made the place. He had never felt this way about any other girl. Just then a strange sound, like distant shouting, came through the stillness. Middleton rose and strolled down to the gate. There were fewer people in the street. A man came hurrying along and spoke to another. His voice was so excited that it arrested Middleton’s attention, and he caught the last of his sentence.
“It ought to be broke up at once. Go in there and call Captain Allen and McRaffle out.”
“What’s that?” asked Middleton, walking out of the gate, and up to him.