MacTague for chaperon, and whom I had known for long. Edith had chosen to
be very friendly always, and I liked her--only, I suspected her of being a
bit too worldly to suit me.

"And why isn't it I? I can't see that my identity is more surprising than
yours," I retorted, pulling myself together. It did certainly give me a
start to see her there, and looking so exactly as she had always looked.
I couldn't think of anything more to say, so, as the music had started,
I asked her if she had any dances saved for me. I couldn't decently leave
her and carry out my original plan, you see.

She laughed at my ignorance, and told me that this was a "frontier" dance,
and there were no programs.

"You just promise one or two dances ahead," she explained. "As many as you
can remember. Beryl told me all about how they do here; Beryl King is my
cousin, you know."

I didn't know, but I was content to take her word for it, and asked her
for that dance and got it, and she chattered on about everything under the
sun, and told all about how they happened to be in Montana, and how long
they were going to stay, and that Mr. Weaver had brought his auto, and
another fellow--I forget his name--had intended to bring his, but didn't,
and that they were going to tour through to Helena, on their way home, and
it would be such fun, and that if I didn't come over right away to call
upon her, she would never forgive me.

"There's a drawback," I told her. "I'm not on your cousin's visiting-list;
I've never even been introduced to her."