After supper the Lieutenant and Naida danced twice together, the young
girl's mood having apparently changed to one of buoyant, careless
happiness, her dark eyes smiling, her lips uttering freely whatever
thought came uppermost. Outwardly she pictured the gay and merry
spirit of the night, yet to Brant, already observing her with the
jealousy of a lover, she appeared distrait and restless, her
affectation of abandon a mere mask to her true feelings. There was a
peculiar watchfulness in her glances about the crowded room, while her
flushed cheeks, and the distinctly false note in her laughter, began to
trouble him not a little. Perhaps these things might have passed
unnoted but for their contrast with the late confidential chat.
He could not reconcile this sudden change with what he believed of her.
It was not carried out with the practised art of one accustomed to
deceit. There must be something real influencing her action. These
misgivings burdened his mind even as he swung lightly with her to the
music, and they talked together in little snatches.
He had forgotten Miss Spencer, forgotten everything else about him,
permitting himself to become enthralled by this strange girl whose name
even he did not know. In every way she had appealed to his
imagination, awakening his interest, his curiosity, his respect, and
even now, when some secret seemed to sway her conduct, it merely served
to strengthen his resolve to advance still farther in her regard.
There are natures which welcome strife; they require opposition,
difficulty, to develop their real strength. Brant was of this breed.
The very conception that some person, even some inanimate thing, might
stand between him and the heart of this fair woman acted upon him like
a stimulant.
The last of the two waltzes ended, they walked slowly through the
scattering throng, he striving vainly to arouse her to the former
independence and intimacy of speech. While endeavoring bravely to
exhibit interest, her mind too clearly wandered, and there was borne in
slowly upon him the distasteful idea that she would prefer being left
alone. Brant had been secretly hoping it might become his privilege to
escort her home, but now he durst not breathe the words of such a
request. Something indefinable had arisen between them which held the
man dumb and nerveless. Suddenly they came face to face with Mrs.
Herndon, and Brant felt the girl's arm twitch.
"I have been looking everywhere for you, Naida," Mrs. Herndon said, a
slight complaint in her voice. "We were going home."
Naida's cheeks reddened painfully.
"I am so sorry if I have kept you waiting," her words spoken with a
rush, "but--but, Lieutenant Brant was intending to accompany me. We
were just starting for the cloak-room."