"Yes, by George! What will that girl do next? Who but Miss Bright would bother about other people's crying infants? But it's just like her! She is true woman to the heart. I wish there were more like her." "So do I, John. I wish I were more like her myself in unselfish interest in people." "She has done you great good already, Kenneth." "Yes, I know." Then a shadow darkened Kenneth's face. He moved toward the outer door that stood open, and looked out into the night. At last Esther's task was accomplished, the babe was asleep, and she returned to the scene of the dancing. Kenneth sought her and asked her to dance the next waltz with him. She assured him, also, that she did not dance. "Let me teach you," he urged. But she shook her head. "You do not approve of dancing?" he asked, lifting his brows. "I did not say I do not approve of dancing; I said I do not dance. By the way," she said, changing the subject of the conversation, "my lessons in riding are to begin to-morrow, are they not?" "To-morrow, if I may have the pleasure. Do you think riding wicked, too?" This he said with a sly twinkle in his eye. "Wicked, too?" she echoed. "What's the 'too' mean?" "Dancing, of course." "But I didn't say I thought dancing wicked. I said I do not dance." "Oh, well, you think it wicked, or you would dance." She looked amused. "What would you say if I should tell you I learned to dance years ago?" "That you are strait-laced obstinacy personified. Why not dance? It could do you no harm." "It is not expedient, that is all. Let me tell you I really did learn. I am not an accomplished dancer, though. I was taught to dance in a school I attended. But I have never danced in social life." "Why not put aside your scruples for once," he urged, "and dance the next waltz with me? You don't know what pleasure it would give me." But she still refused. He saw that to pursue the matter further would be useless. The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of cowboys and cowlasses, who, as they filed past, were presented to her by Kenneth Hastings. "How are ye?" asked one husky fellow, gripping Esther's hand like a vise. "Happy ter know yer acquaintance," said another. The girls snickered and looked foolish, keeping time to the music with the tapping of their feet. "You like to dance, I see," said Esther to one girl. "You bet I do!" The girl's jaws kept time to the music as she vigorously chewed gum. "Come, Jim," said another loud-voiced cowlass, "that's our set." And away they went, hand in hand, edging their way through the crowded rooms. Soon they were in the midst of the boisterous dancers. Kenneth joined the human fringe around the dance room. He stood watching as though what he saw amused him.