CHAPTER XIX

After the supper no time was lost in returning to the main business of

the meeting. Again Willie claimed the first dance, and Forbes was

deputed to Ten Eyck's debutante. The next dance, however, brought him

back to Persis. He had asked for it, uneasily, and she had granted it

with an amiable "Of course."

The moment they were safely lost in the vortex he began to make amends.

While he was strutting his proudest through the tango, he was stammering

the humblest apologies.

"Oh, don't let that worry you," she answered. "I suppose all men believe

they have to do that sort of thing to entertain us. Poor fellows, you

think we women expect it of you. Some of us do, I suppose; but I don't

like it. And it doesn't seem quite what I had expected of you."

He got a little comfort from the thought that she had taken the trouble,

at least, to form an opinion of him. But mainly he admired her for the

continued good sportsmanship of her attitude. There was a kind of

manliness about it, as if one gentleman should say to another:

"Pardon me, but you are trespassing on my property. It was a natural

mistake, but I thought you'd like to know my boundary line."

And yet something was gone from her warmth. She danced with him,

chatted, laughed. But a chill was upon her. That little bloom of

tenderness that had softened her words as the down velvets the peach,

had vanished. Frost had nipped the firstling of spring.

Forbes was infinitely repentant, rebuffed, but not routed. He began once

more to scout along her outposts.

"That hat you wore, you remember, day before yesterday?"

"Yes."

"I told you how I followed it."

"Yes."

"My heart ran after you like a newsboy calling to you. But you didn't

hear."

"I'm so sorry!"

"All of a sudden you spoke to your driver, and he put on full speed up

the Avenue, as if you were in a great hurry. I had a funny idea that you

might be making haste to meet some man."

"Let me see! Yes, I was. I was hurrying home to meet Willie. He is

always furious when I am late."

This time the name of Enslee was like a blow in the face. It dazed

Forbes with a confirmation of his worst fears. He did not realize that

he thought aloud:

"I guessed right! I knew it was a man, and I was jealous."

Persis stared up at him. She smiled incredulously.

"You were jealous? But you hadn't even seen me."

"No, but I wanted to see you. I felt you in the air. And I was jealous."

His eyes were laughing into her laughing eyes. But both of them were a

trifle solemn at heart. Forbes determined to learn how her affairs stood

with Enslee. He could never have found the temerity to demand the

information if the music had not flared with such dare-deviltry.

"Would you mind if I asked you one very personal question?" he said.

"Not if you'll look the other way when I answer it."

"Are you engaged to Willie Enslee?"

The question was so unexpected and so forthright that it almost

staggered her. She flashed one look up into his earnest eyes and

laughed; but it was a cold laugh.

"You are the most amazing piece of impudence I ever met."

"You haven't answered."

"What difference could it make to you?"

"All the difference in the world. It is a matter of the utmost

importance to me."

"Why?"

"Because if you are not--" The music was the most inconsequential jig,

and their feet were frolic, but his voice was solemn as a prayer. "If

you are not, I want to--to tell you that you have--you are--that--well,

my heart is at your feet."

"Watch out, then, for I can't see my feet, and my heels are sharp."

"Won't you be serious?"

"You are the frivolous one. You've only just met me; you don't know

anything about me, nor I about you, yet you talk this talk."

"I've known you long enough to know that you are--"

"Oh no, you haven't. You've only seen me with my party manners on."

"But you--you--oh, I can't talk to this music. Will you sit down a

moment somewhere?"

"No, indeed. I came here to dance, and I wish you would stick to your

knitting."

"You haven't answered my question. Are you engaged to that man?"

"Oh, so he is 'that man' already?"

"Are you going to marry him?"

"I'm no prophet, Mr. Forbes."

The medley broke into the ribald tune of a popular song: a woman's

celebration of the generosity of her keeper whom she called "Daddy," and

who always brought her gifts. The refrain was a disgustingly

irresistible hilarity: "Here comes my Daddy now, Pop, oh, Pop, oh Pop!"

Half the dancers shouted the refrain as they whirled.

Forbes' heart selected from the sordid lyric only its rejoicing. He

selected from Persis' words only the hope they negatively implied. He

began to dance in a frenzy, locking knee to knee, whipping her off her

feet, and clenching her sweet body so close to him that she gasped:

"I have to breathe, you know."

"Forgive me," he murmured into the curls about her ear. "But you're a

wonderful thing!"

"Am I?" she laughed, but with a sort of patient indifference.

"I'm mad about you."

"Are you?"

"I wish I dared to tell you that I love you."

"I hope you won't."

"Men are always telling you that?"

"No--not always--once or twice." She was so far away, though in his

arms, that her voice seemed to come to him across a long wire.

"Did you love any of them?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"There's nothing I'm surer of than that."

"Does that mean that you are not engaged to Mr. Enslee?"

She laughed again.

"Not necessarily."