"Agreeable! Why, he's splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I'm going to have
the first dance with him. I'm the eldest. He's big enough to divide
between two small girls like us, you know."
"I don't intend to dance," said Dorothy.
"Nonsense, you're not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak
to. I'll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He'll take two or
three blue-jackets and capture anybody you want."
"Katherine," said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder
sister who spoke, "if you say anything like that, I'll go back to the
house."
"You can't get back. I'll appeal to the guard. I'll have you locked up
if you don't behave yourself."
"You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful
what you say, or you'll make me feel very unhappy."
Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little
squeeze.
"Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn't make you unhappy for
the world. But surely you're going to dance?"
Dorothy shook her head.
"Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I
shouldn't enjoy it, and-- there are other reasons. This is all so new
and strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women-- the
lights, the music, everything-- it is as if I had stepped into another
world; something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never
expected to see."
"Why, you dear girl, I'm not going to dance either, then.
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