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ButPatriciaseverelyignoredhim。
“Oh，Adrien，look！“shecriedsuddenly。“ThereisAnnette，andwhoisthebigmanwithher？Oh，whatanawfuldancerheis！ButAnnette，isn’tshewonderful！Whatalovelydress！Ithinksheisthemostbeautifulthing。“AndPatriciawasright，forAnnettewasradiantincolourandunapproachableinthegraceofhermovement。
“ByJove！Sheisawonder！“saidVic。“Somedancer，ifsheonlyhadachance。“
“Well，whydon’tyougodown，Vic，“saidPatriciasharply。“Youknowyouarejustachingtoshowoffyourfoxtrot。Runaway，littleboy，Iwon’tmind。“
“Idon’tbelieveyouwould，“repliedVicruefully。
Forsomeminuteslongertheyallstoodwatchingthescenebelow。
“Theyareajollycrowd，“saidAdrien。“Idon’tthinkwehavehalfthefunatourdances。“
“Theycertainlygetalotfortheirmoney，“saidVic。“Butwaittilltheycometo’turkey-in-the-straw！’Thatiswheretheyreallycutloose。“
“Oh，pshaw！“criedPatricia。“Ican’turkey’myself。Justwaitandyou’llsee。“
“SocanI，“murmuredVic。“Willyouletmeinonit？Hello，“hecontinued，“thereistheCaptainandAnnette。Nowlookoutforhighart。IknowtheCaptain’sstyle。Andatwo-step！Myeye！
Sheisalittleairyfairy！“
“Howbeautifullyshedances，“saidAdrien。“Andhowcharminglysheisdressed。“
“Theydohititoff，don’tthey，“saidRupert。“Theyevidentlyknoweachother’spaces。“
SuddenlyAdrienturnedtoHugh:“Don’tyouthinkweshouldgodown？“sheasked。“Youknowwemustnotstaylate。“
“Yes，docomealong！“criedPatricia，seizingVictorbythearmandhurryingtothestairs，theothersmakingtheirwaymoreleisurelytothedancingroom。
Thehallwasasceneofconfusedhilarity。Maitlandwasnowheretobeseen。
“Oh！letusdance，Vic！“criedPatricia。“ThereisreallynousewaitingforCaptainJack。Atanyrate，Adrienwillclaimthefirstdance。“
Nosecondinvitationwasneededandtogethertheyswungoffintothemedleyofdancers。
“Wemayaswellfollow，“saidHugh。“WeshalldoubtlessrunintoMaitlandsomewherebeforelong。“
Butnotinthatdance，norinthethreesuccessivedancesdidMaitlandappear。Thepreciousmomentswereslippingby。Patriciawasbecomingmoreandmoreanxiousandfretfulatthenon-
appearanceofherhero。Also，Hughbegantonoticeanddetectalagginginhispartner’sstep。
“Shallwegooutintothecorridor？“hesaid。“Thisairisbeginningtoberathertrying。“
Fromthecrowdedhalltheypassedintothecorridor，fromwhichopenedsideroomswhichwereusedasdressingandretiringrooms，andwhoseentranceswerecleverlyscreenedbyarowofthicksprucetreessetupfortheoccasion。
“Thisisbetter，“saidHugh，drawingadeepbreath。“Shallwesitabitandrest？“
“Oh，doletus，“saidAdrien。“Thishasbeenastrenuousandexcitingevening。Ireallyfeelquitedoneout。Hereisamostinvitingseat。“
Wearilyshesatdownonabenchwhichfacedtheentrancetooneoftherooms。
“ShallIbringyouaglassofwateroranice，Adrien？“inquiredHugh，notingthepallorinherface。
“Thankyou。Aglassofwater，ifyouwillbesokind。Howdeliciouslyfragrantthatspruceis。“
Asherpartnersetoffuponhiserrand，Adriensteppedtothesprucetreewhichscreenedtheopendooroftheroomopposite，andtakingtheboskybranchesinherhands，shethrustherfaceintothearomaticfoliage。
“Howdeliciouslyfragrant，“shemurmured。
Suddenly，asifstabbedbyaspineinthetrees，shestartedbackandstoodgazingthroughthethickbranchesintotheroombeyondTherestoodMaitlandandAnnette，thegirl，withherfacetearfullypaleandpleading，upliftedtohisandwithherhandsgrippedtightandheldfastinhis，claspedagainsthisbreast。Moreplainlythanwordsherface，hereyes，herattitudetoldhertale。Shewaspouringoutherverysoultohiminentreaty，andhewasgivingeager，sympatheticheedtoherappeal。
SwiftlyAdriensteppedbackfromthescreeningtree，herfacewhiteasiffromastunningblow，herheartbeatscheckingherbreath。
Quickly，blindly，sherandownthecorridor。AttheveryendshemetHughwithaglassofwaterinhishand。
“Whatisthematter，Adrien？Haveyouseenaghost？“hecriedinananxiousvoice。
Shecaughttheglassfromhishandandbegantodrink，atfirstgreedily，thenmoreslowly。
“Ah！“shesaid，drawingadeepbreath。“Thatisgood。Doyouknow，Iwasalmostovercome。Theairofthatroomisquitedeadly。
NowIamallright。Letusgetabreathfromtheoutside，Hugh。“
Takinghimbythearm，shehastenedhimtothefartherendofthecorridorandopenedthedoor。“Oh，delicious！“Shedrewindeepbreathsofthecold，freshair。
“Howwonderfulthenightis，Hugh。“Sheleanedfarout，“andthesnowwaslikeaclothofsilveranddiamondsinthisgloriousmoon。“Shestooped，andfromagleamingbankbesidethedoorshecaughtupadoublehandfulofthesnowand，packingitintoalittleball，flungitatherpartner，catchinghimfairlyontheear。
“Aha！“shecried。“Don’teversayawomanisapoorshot。Nowthen，“sheadded，stampingherfeetfreefromtheclingingflakesandwavingherhandsintheairtodrythem，“Ifeelfitforanything。Letushaveonemoredancebeforewegohome，forIfeelwereallymustgo。“
“Youaresureyouarequitefit？“inquiredHugh，stillanxiousforher。
“Fit？Lookatme！“Hercheekswerebrightwithcolour，hereyeswithlight。
“Yousurelydolookfit，“saidHugh，beamingatherwithfrankadmiration。“Butyouwereallinafewmomentsago。“
“Comealong。Thereisawayintothehallbythisdoor，“shecried，catchinghishandandhurryinghimintothedancingroomagain。
AttheconclusionoftheirdancetheycameuponPatricianearthemainentrance，ingreatdistress。“IhavenotseenCaptainJackanywhere，“shelamented。“Haveyou，Adrien？IhavejustsentVicforafinalsearch。IsimplycannotgohometillIhavehadmydance。“Thegirlwasalmostintears。
“Nevermind，dear，“saidAdrien。“Hehasmanydutiesto-nightwithalltheseplayerstolookafter。IthinkwehadbettergowheneverVicreturns。Iamawfullysorryforyou，Patricia，“sheadded。
“No！Don’t！Yousimplymustnotcryhere。“Sheputherarmaroundhersister’sshoulder，herownlipstrembling，anddrewherclose。“WherehasVicgone，Iwonder？“
Thatyoungman，however，washavinghisowntrials。InhissearchforMaitlandheranacrossMcNish，whomherecognisedasAnnette’spartnerinthefirstdance。
“Hello！“hecried。“DoyouknowwhereCaptainMaitlandis，byanychance？“
“No，howshouldIknow，“repliedMcNish，inavoicefiercelyguttural。
“Oh！“saidVic，somewhatabashed。“IsawyoudancewithAnnette——
withMissPerrotte——andIthoughtperhapsyoumightknowwheretheCaptainwas。“
McNishstoodgloweringathimforamomentortwo，thenburstforth:
“Theyareawa’——he’sta’enherawa’。“
“Away，“saidVic。“Where？“
“TohellforallIkenorcare。“
ThenwithasinglestrideMcNishwascloseathisside，grippinghisarmwithfingersthatseemedtoreachthebone。
“Ye’reafriendo’his。Letmesaytaeyeifonyillcamestaeher，bytheleevin’Godaboveushewullanswertaeme。“Hoarse，panting，hisfacethatofamaniac，hestoodglaringwild-eyedattheyoungmanbeforehim。TosaythatVicwasshakenbythissuddenandviolentonslaughtwouldbemuchwithinthetruth。
Neverthelessheboldlyfacedthepassion-distractedman。
“Lookhere！Idon’tknowwhoyouareorwhatyoumean，“hesaid，inassteadytonesashecouldsummon，“butifyousuggestthatanygirlwillcometoharmfromCaptainMaitland，thenIsayyouarealiarandafool。“Sospeaking，littleVicsethimselffortherushwhichhewasfirmlyconvincedwouldcome。McNish，however，stoodstill，fightingforcontrol。Then，betweenhisdeep-drawnbreaths，heslowlyspoke:
“Yemaybericht。AhopetaeGodAambaithliarandfule。“TheagonyinhisfacemovedVictopity。
“Isay，oldchap，“hesaid，“youareterriblymistakensomehow，I
cansweartothat。WhereisMaitland，anyway，doyouknow？“
“Theywentawaytogether。“McNishhadsuddenlygottenhimselfinhand。“Theywentawayinhiscar，secretly。“
“Secretly，“saidVic，scornfully。“Now，thatisperfectrot。Lookhere，doyouknowCaptainMaitland？Iamhisfriend，andletmetellyouthatallIeverhopetoown，hereandhereafter，andallmyrelativesandfriends，Iwouldgladlytrustwithhim。“
“Maybe，maybe，“mutteredMcNish。“Yemaybericht。Aapologise，sir，butif——“Hiseyesblazedagain。
“Aw，cutoutthetragedystuff，“saidVic，“anddon’tbeanass。
Good-night。“
VicturnedonhisheelandleftMcNishstandinginadullanddazedcondition，andmadehiswaytowardtheballroom。
“WhoistheJohnny，anyway？“hesaidtohimself。“Heismad——
looney——utterlybughouse。Needsakeeperintheworstway。ButwhatabouttheCaptain——mustthinkupsomething。Let’ssee。Takensuddenlyill？Hardly——thereisthegirltoaccountfor。Hermother——grandmother——orsomething——stricken——let’ssee。Annettehasabrother——ByJove！theverything——I’vegotit——brothermetwithanaccident——runover——felldownawell——anything。Hurrycall——ambulancestuff。Goodline。Needsworkingupabit，though。
Whathashappenedtomygreymatter？Letmethink。Ah，yes——whenthatJohnnybroughtwordofanaccident，aseriousaccidenttoherbrother，Maitland，naturallyenough，thegallantsoul，hurriesheroffinhiscar，sendingwordbyaforesaidmadJohnny。“
Vicwenttotheouterdoor，feelingthenecessityforasomewhatcarefulconningofhistaletogiveit，ashesaidhimself，alittleartisticverisimilitude。Then，withhislesson——ashethought——welllearned，andprayingforaidofunknowngods，hewentbacktofindhispartner。
“IfonlyPatriciawillkeepoutofit，“hesaidtohimselfashenearedthehalldoor，“orifIcouldonlycatcholdHughfirst。
Butheisnotmuchofahelpinthissortofthing。Dashitall！
Iamquitenervous。Thiswillneverdo。Mustfindaway——goodeffect——coolandcollectedstuff。“So，ruminatingandprayingandmovingevermoreslowly，hereachedthedoor。Cominginsightofhisparty，hehurriedtomeetthem。“Awfullysorry！“heexclaimedexcitedly。“Themostrottenluck！OldMaitland’sjustbeencalledoff。“
“Calledoff！“criedPatricia，indismay。“Whereto！“
“Now，don’tjumpatmelikethat。Remembermyheart。MetthatJohnny——thebigchapdancingwithAnnette，youknow——justmethim——
quiteworkedup——ahurrycallforthegirl——forthegirl，Annette，youknow。“
“Thegirl！“exclaimedPatricia。“YousaidCaptainJack。“
“Iknow！Iknow！“repliedVic，somewhatimpatiently。“Iamabitexcited，Iconfess。Rathernastything——Annette’sbrother，youknow——somethingwrong——accident，Ithink。Couldn’tgettheparticulars。“
“ButAnnette’sbrotherisinToronto，“saidAdrien，gravely。
“Exactly！“criedVic。“ThatiswhatIhavebeentellingyou。A
hurrycall——phonemessageforAnnette——horribleaccident。MaitlandrushedherrightawayinhiscartocatchthemidnighttoToronto。“
“ByJove！Thatistoobad，“saidHugh，agenuinesympathyinhishonestvoice。“ThatishardluckonpoorAnnette。Tonyisnotexactlyasafeproposition，youknow。“
“Washe——ishekilled？“criedPatricia，inahorror-strickenvoice。
“Killed！Notabitofit，“saidViccheerfully。“Slightinjury——
butserious，Imean。Youknow，justenoughtocauseanxiety。“Viclitanothercigarettewithostentatiousdeliberation。“Nastyshock，youknow，“hesaid。
“Whotoldyouallthis？“inquiredRupert。
“Whotoldme？“saidVic。“Why，thatmadJohnny。“
“MadJohnny？WhatmadJohnny？“
Vicsaid:“Eh！What？Youknow，that——ahr——bigchapwhowasfallingoverherinthefoxtrot。Lookedkindofcrazy，youknow——
bigchap——Scotch。“
