按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all up if I could have Captain Jack all the time。〃
〃Pig；〃 said her sister； smiling at her。
〃Wretch；〃 cried Vic； making a face。
But Patricia was quite unabashed。 〃I am going to have him just as
often as I can；〃 she said； brazenly。
For a few minutes they stood watching the dancers on the floor
below。 It was indeed； as Mrs。 Templeton had said； a 〃mixed
multitude。〃 Mill hands and their girls； townsfolk whose social
standing was sufficiently assured to endure the venture。 A mixed
multitude； but thoroughly jolly； making up in vigour what was
lacking in grace in their exposition of the Terpsichorean art。
〃Rather ghastly；〃 said Rupert； who appeared to be quite disgusted
with the whole evening's proceedings。
〃Lovely！〃 exclaimed Patricia。
〃They are enjoying themselves； at any rate；〃 said Adrien； 〃and；
after all； that is what people dance for。〃
〃Stacks of fun。 I am all for it； eh； Pat？〃 said Vic； making
adoring eyes at the young girl。
But Patricia severely ignored him。
〃Oh； Adrien； look！〃 she cried suddenly。 〃There is Annette； and who
is the big man with her？ Oh； what an awful dancer he is！ But
Annette； isn't she wonderful！ What a lovely dress！ I think she is
the most beautiful thing。〃 And Patricia was right； for Annette was
radiant in colour and unapproachable in the grace of her movement。
〃By Jove！ She is a wonder！〃 said Vic。 〃Some dancer； if she only
had a chance。〃
〃Well； why don't you go down； Vic；〃 said Patricia sharply。 〃You
know you are just aching to show off your fox trot。 Run away；
little boy； I won't mind。〃
〃I don't believe you would；〃 replied Vic ruefully。
For some minutes longer they all stood watching the scene below。
〃They are a jolly crowd；〃 said Adrien。 〃I don't think we have half
the fun at our dances。〃
〃They certainly get a lot for their money；〃 said Vic。 〃But wait
till they come to 'turkey…in…the…straw！' That is where they really
cut loose。〃
〃Oh； pshaw！〃 cried Patricia。 〃I can 'turkey' myself。 Just wait
and you'll see。〃
〃So can I；〃 murmured Vic。 〃Will you let me in on it？ Hello；〃 he
continued； 〃there is the Captain and Annette。 Now look out for
high art。 I know the Captain's style。 And a two…step！ My eye！
She is a little airy fairy！〃
〃How beautifully she dances；〃 said Adrien。 〃And how charmingly she
is dressed。〃
〃They do hit it off； don't they；〃 said Rupert。 〃They evidently
know each other's paces。〃
Suddenly Adrien turned to Hugh： 〃Don't you think we should go
down？〃 she asked。 〃You know we must not stay late。〃
〃Yes； do come along！〃 cried Patricia； seizing Victor by the arm and
hurrying to the stairs； the others making their way more leisurely
to the dancing room。
The hall was a scene of confused hilarity。 Maitland was nowhere to
be seen。
〃Oh！ let us dance； Vic！〃 cried Patricia。 〃There is really no use
waiting for Captain Jack。 At any rate； Adrien will claim the first
dance。〃
No second invitation was needed and together they swung off into
the medley of dancers。
〃We may as well follow；〃 said Hugh。 〃We shall doubtless run into
Maitland somewhere before long。〃
But not in that dance； nor in the three successive dances did
Maitland appear。 The precious moments were slipping by。 Patricia
was becoming more and more anxious and fretful at the non…
appearance of her hero。 Also； Hugh began to notice and detect a
lagging in his partner's step。
〃Shall we go out into the corridor？〃 he said。 〃This air is
beginning to be rather trying。〃
From the crowded hall they passed into the corridor； from which
opened side rooms which were used as dressing and retiring rooms；
and whose entrances were cleverly screened by a row of thick spruce
trees set up for the occasion。
〃This is better；〃 said Hugh； drawing a deep breath。 〃Shall we sit
a bit and rest？〃
〃Oh； do let us；〃 said Adrien。 〃This has been a strenuous and
exciting evening。 I really feel quite done out。 Here is a most
inviting seat。〃
Wearily she sat down on a bench which faced the entrance to one of
the rooms。
〃Shall I bring you a glass of water or an ice； Adrien？〃 inquired
Hugh； noting the pallor in her face。
〃Thank you。 A glass of water； if you will be so kind。 How
deliciously fragrant that spruce is。〃
As her partner set off upon his errand； Adrien stepped to the
spruce tree which screened the open door of the room opposite； and
taking the bosky branches in her hands； she thrust her face into
the aromatic foliage。
〃How deliciously fragrant；〃 she murmured。
Suddenly； as if stabbed by a spine in the trees； she started back
and stood gazing through the thick branches into the room beyond
There stood Maitland and Annette； the girl； with her face tearfully
pale and pleading； uplifted to his and with her hands gripped tight
and held fast in his； clasped against his breast。 More plainly
than words her face； her eyes； her attitude told her tale。 She was
pouring out her very soul to him in entreaty； and he was giving
eager； sympathetic heed to her appeal。
Swiftly Adrien stepped back from the screening tree； her face white
as if from a stunning blow； her heartbeats checking her breath。
Quickly； blindly； she ran down the corridor。 At the very end she
met Hugh with a glass of water in his hand。
〃What is the matter； Adrien？ Have you seen a ghost？〃 he cried in
an anxious voice。
She caught the glass from his hand and began to drink； at first
greedily； then more slowly。
〃Ah！〃 she said； drawing a deep breath。 〃That is good。 Do you
know； I was almost overcome。 The air of that room is quite deadly。
Now I am all right。 Let us get a breath from the outside； Hugh。〃
Taking him by the arm； she hastened him to the farther end of the
corridor and opened the door。 〃Oh； delicious！〃 She drew in deep
breaths of the cold； fresh air。
〃How wonderful the night is； Hugh。〃 She leaned far out； 〃and the
snow was like a cloth of silver and diamonds in this glorious
moon。〃 She stooped； and from a gleaming bank beside the door she
caught up a double handful of the snow and； packing it into a
little ball； flung it at her partner； catching him fairly on the
ear。
〃Aha！〃 she cried。 〃Don't ever say a woman is a poor shot。 Now
then；〃 she added； stamping her feet free from the clinging flakes
and waving her hands in the air to dry them； 〃I feel fit for
anything。 Let us have one more dance before we go home； for I feel
we really must go。〃
〃You are sure you are quite fit？〃 inquired Hugh； still anxious for
her。
〃Fit？ Look at me！〃 Her cheeks were bright with colour； her eyes
with light。
〃You surely do look fit；〃 said Hugh； beaming at her with frank
admiration。 〃But you were all in a few moments ago。〃
〃Come along。 There is a way into the hall by this door；〃 she
cried； catching his hand and hurrying him into the dancing room
again。
At the conclusion of their dance they came upon Patricia near the
main entrance； in great distress。 〃I have not seen Captain Jack
anywhere；〃 she lamented。 〃Have you； Adrien？ I have just sent Vic
for a final search。 I simply cannot go home till I have had my
dance。〃 The girl was almost in tears。
〃Never mind； dear；〃 said Adrien。 〃He has many duties to…night with
all these players to look after。 I think we had better go whenever
Vic returns。 I am awfully sorry for you； Patricia；〃 she added。
〃No！ Don't！ You simply must not cry here。〃 She put her arm
around her sister's shoulder； her own lips trembling； and drew her
close。 〃Where has Vic gone； I wonder？〃
That young man； however； was having his own trials。 In his search
for Maitland he ran across McNish； whom he recognised as Annette's
partner in the first dance。
〃Hello！〃 he cried。 〃Do you know where Captain Maitland is； by any
chance？〃
〃No； how should I know；〃 replied McNish； in a voice fiercely
guttural。
〃Oh！〃 said Vic； somewhat abashed。 〃I saw you dance with Annette
with Miss Perrotteand I thought perhaps you might know where the
Captain was。〃
McNish stood glowering at him for a moment or two； then burst
forth：
〃They are awa'he's ta'en her awa'。〃
〃Away；〃 said Vic。 〃Where？〃
〃To hell for all I ken or care。〃
Then with a single stride McNish was close at his side； gripping
his arm with fingers that seemed to reach the bone。
〃Ye're a friend o' his。 Let me say tae ye if ony ill cames tae
her； by the leevin' God above us he wull answer tae me。〃 Hoarse；
panting； his face that of a maniac； he stood glaring wild…eyed at
the young man before him。 To say that Vic was shaken by this
sudden and violent onslaught would be much within the truth。
Nevertheless he boldly faced the passion…distracted man。
〃Look here！ I don't know who you are or what you mean；〃 he said；
in as steady tones as he could summon； 〃but if you suggest that any
girl will come to harm from Captain Maitland； then I say you are a
liar and a fool。〃 So speaking； little Vic set himself for the rush
which he was firmly convinced would come。 McNish； however； stood
still； fighting for control。 Then； between his deep…drawn breaths；
he slowly spoke：
〃Ye may be richt。 A hope tae God A am baith liar and fule。〃 The
agony in his face moved Vic to pity。
〃I