And presently his opportunity arrived. Mrs. Severn had gone in the
house to take a nap, and the minister had been called away to see a
sick man. The girl continued to study her little book: "I wish you would come and amuse me," he said in the voice of an
interesting invalid.
The girl looked up and smiled absently: "I'm sorry," she said, "but I have to go to my Sunday-school class in a
few minutes, and I was just getting my lesson ready. Would you like me
to get you something to read?"
"No," he answered crossly. He was not used to being crossed in any
desire by a lady, "I want you to talk to me. Bother the Sunday-school!
Give them a vacation to-day and let them go fishing. They'll be
delighted, I'm sure. You have a wonderful foot. Do you know it? You
must be a good dancer. Haven't you a victrola here? We might dance if
only my foot weren't out of commission."
"I don't dance, Mr. Shafton, and it is the Sabbath," she smiled
indulgently with her eyes on her book.
"Why don't you dance? I could teach you easily. And what has the
Sabbath got to do with it?"
"But I don't care to dance. It doesn't appeal to me in the least. And
the Sabbath has everything to do with it. If I did dance I would not do
it to-day."
"But why?" he asked in genuine wonder.
"Because this is the day set apart for enjoying God and not enjoying
ourselves."
He stared.
"You certainly are the most extraordinary young woman I ever met," he
said admiringly, "Did no one ever tell you that you are very
beautiful."
She gave him the benefit of her beautiful eyes then in a cold amused
glance: "Among my friends, Mr. Shafton, it is not considered good form to say
such things to a lady of slight acquaintance." She rose and gathered up
her book and hat that lay on the floor beside her chair, and drew
herself up till she seemed almost regal.
Laurie Shafton stumbled to his feet. He was ashamed. He felt almost as
he had felt once when he was caught with a jag on being rude to a
friend of his mother's: "I beg your pardon," he said gracefully, "I hope you will believe me, I
meant no harm."
"It is no matter," said the girl graciously, "only I do not like it.
Now you must excuse me. I see my class are gathering."