第49章
Joe, you get the next dance with her, and just about time the music slows up you dance her around so you can stop right near where Bill will be standin', so Bill can get her quick for the dance after that.Then, Bill, you do the same for me, and I'll do the same for Joe again, and then, Joe, you do it for Bill again, and then Bill for me--and so on.If we go in right now and work together we can crowd the rest out, and there won't anybody else get to dance with her the whole day! Come on quick!''
United in purpose, the three ran lightly to the dancing-lawn, and Mr.Bullitt was successful, after a little debate, in obtaining the next dance with the lovely guest of the day.``I did promise big Untle Georgiecums,'' she said, looking about her.
``Well, I don't think he'll come,'' said Joe.
``That is, I'm pretty sure he won't.''
A shade fell upon the exquisite face.``No'ty.
Bruvva Josie-Joe! The Men ALWAYS tum when Lola promises dances.Mustn't be rude!''
``Well--'' Joe began, when he was interrupted by the Swedish lady named Anna, who spoke to them from the steps of the house.Of the merrymakers they were the nearest.
``Dot pick fella,'' said Anna, ``dot one dot eats--we make him in a petroom.He holler!
He tank he neet some halp.''
``Does he want a doctor?'' Joe asked.
``Doctor? No! He want make him in a amyoulance for hospital!''
``I'll go look at him,'' Johnnie Watson volunteered, running up.``He's my cousin, and I guess I got to take the responsibility.''
Miss Pratt paid the invalid the tribute of one faintly commiserating glance toward the house.
``Well,'' she said, ``if people would rather eat too much than dance!'' She meant ``dance with ME!'' though she thought it prettier not to say so.``Come on, Bruvva Josie-Joe!'' she cried, joyously.
And a little later Johnnie Watson approached her where she stood with a restored and refulgent William, about to begin the succeeding dance.
Johnnie dropped into her hand a ring, receiving one in return.``I thought I better GET it,'' he said, offering no further explanation.``I'll take care of his until we get home.He's all right,''
said Johnnie, and then perceiving a sudden advent of apprehension upon the sensitive brow of William, he went on reassuringly: ``He's doin' as well as anybody could expect; that is--after the crazy way he DID! He's always been considered the dumbest one in all our relations--never did know how to act.I don't mean he's exactly not got his senses, or ought to be watched, anything like that--and of course he belongs to an awful good family--but he's just kind of the black sheep when it comes to intelligence, or anything like that.I got him as comfortable as a person could be, and they're givin' him hot water and mustard and stuff, but what he needs now is just to be kind of quiet.It'll do him a lot o'
good,'' Johnnie concluded, with a spark in his voice, ``to lay there the rest of the afternoon and get quieted down, kind of.''
``You don't think there's any--'' William began, and, after a pause, continued--``any hope --of his getting strong enough to come out and dance afterwhile?''
Johnnie shook his head.``None in the world!'' he said, conclusively.``The best we can do for him is to let him entirely alone till after supper, and then ask nobody to sit on the back seat of the trolley-car goin' home, so we can make him comfortable back there, and let him kind of stretch out by himself.''
Then gaily tinkled harp, gaily sang flute and violin! Over the greensward William lightly bore his lady, while radiant was the cleared sky above the happy dancers.William's fingers touched those delicate fingers; the exquisite face smiled rosily up to him; undreamable sweetness beat rhythmically upon his glowing ears;
his feet moved in a rhapsody of companionship with hers.They danced and danced and danced!
Then Joe danced with her, while William and Johnnie stood with hands upon each other's shoulders and watched, mayhap with longing, but without spite; then Johnnie danced with her while Joe and William watched--and then William danced with her again.
So passed the long, ineffable afternoon away--ah, Seventeen!
``...'Jav a good time at the trolley-party?''
the clerk in the corner drug-store inquired that evening.
``Fine!'' said William, taking his overcoat from the hook where he had left it.
``How j' like them Little Sweethearts I sold you?''
``FINE!'' said William.