Alice from a sidelong eye watched the controversy: she saw the
globular young man glance toward her, over his shoulder;
whereupon Mrs. Dowling, following this glance, gave Alice a look
of open fury, became much more vehement in the argument, and even
struck her knee with a round, fat fist for emphasis.

"I'm on my way," said Walter. "There's the music startin' up
again, and I told you----"

She nodded gratefully. "It's all right--but come back before
long, Walter."

The globular young man, red with annoyance, had torn himself from
his family and was hastening across the room to her. "C'n I have
this dance?"

"Why, you nice Frank Dowling!" Alice cried. "How lovely!"



CHAPTER VII

They danced. Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of
exercise and pastime.

Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes
those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.
But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much
so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy
to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to