Wilfred and
Fergus could not be incited to make the attempt; Mysie offered herself
to Dolores, but in vain. 'I hate dancing,' was all the answer she got,
and she went off to persuade Lois, the nursery girl. Constance Hacket
arranged herself on a chair, and looked out from between two curates;
there was no getting at her.
Then there came a pause; Lord Rotherwood spoke to Gillian, and must
have asked her to point Dolores out, for presently he made his way to
the little dark figure in the window, and, kindly laying his hand on
her shoulder, asked whether she had heard from her father yet.
'No, I suppose you can't,' he added. 'It is a great break-up for you;
but you are a lucky girl to be taken in here! It reminds me of what
Beechcroft used to be to me when I was a stray fish, though not quite
so lonely as you are. Make the most of it, for there aren't many in
these days like Aunt Lily there!'
'He little knows,' thought Dolores, as a waltz began to be played.
'They want an example,' he said. 'Come along. You know how, I'm sure
--a Londoner like you!'
Pairs were whirling about the floor in full career in a short time, to
the astonishment of other maidens who had never seen dancing in their
lives. Dolores, afraid to refuse, and certainly flattered, really was
wonderfully exhilarated and brightened by her career wither good-
natured cousin.
'I do believe Cousin Rotherwood has shaken her out of the dumps,'
observed Gillian to Aunt Jane, who returned--
'He can do it if any one can.
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