“I believe it is,” Tracy remarked, with a twinkling glance toward Dorothea; “but you might stop at Mexico on the way and see how you liked it. Mayn’t I have this dance, Miss Drummond?” he ended, turning to the girl whose feet were already in motion to the gallop the negro musicians from the quarter had struck up. Dorothea nodded and in a moment they were off together. “I think you like to dance,” Tracy murmured after they had gone half round the room. “I do like it,” Dorothea answered; “but I haven’t had much practice, and perhaps I don’t do it very well. You see at home, in England, they think I’m too young to go to dances yet.” “You’re a very fairy on your toes,” Val assured her. Dorothea laughed joyously. “I should like to believe so,” she answered, “but I’m afraid I can’t take your word for it, can I?” “Oh, Miss Drummond,” Val replied with mock despair. “Could you doubt me?” “I can hardly be expected to have much faith in what you say after what I heard you telling Mrs. Stewart about the Incas of Peru,” Dorothea replied. “Faith, I but told her the truth,” he grinned. “They are the oldest family I know of in this hemisphere; and as for your dancing, save one dance I have with Miss Imogene, I’ll be pleased to dance with you all night.” “That would hardly please Miss Imogene,” Dorothea replied, shaking her head. “Aye, and there’s something in that,” Tracy agreed. “Is she not a wonder now? On the other side she’d be wearin’ a cap and spectacles and sittin’ by the chimney corner knittin’. But here—faith, she’s the light of every party! Were I a little younger I’d be askin’ her to marry me, this night; but seein’ I’m all of twenty-three I’ve grave fears I’d age too fast for her.” Val Tracy with his raillery kept Dorothea’s mind off the man upstairs for the time being, but when the music stopped her thoughts flew back to him with a sudden thump at her heart. “He must have gone to Hal’s room by this time,” she said to herself, not knowing whether to be glad or more anxious on that account. A moment later she was claimed by another partner and for a while was so busy trying to remember the names of all the new people to whom she was introduced that she had little time for anything else. April, more radiant and beautiful than ever, had an eye upon her cousin and saw to it that she did not lack partners. “I hope you are having a good time, Dorothea,” she said, upon one occasion, with one of her most beaming smiles.