"But I do; I wish it," Guy replied in that tone which people generally
obeyed; and casting a half-frightened look at the sea of faces around
her, Maddy suffered him to lead her to the piano, sitting quite still
while he found what he wished her to play.
It was his favorite song, and one which brought out Maddy's voice in
its various modulations.
"Oh, please, Mr. Remington, anything but a song. I cannot sing," Maddy
whispered pleadingly; but Guy answered resolutely, "You can."
There was no appeal after this, but a resigned, obedient look, which
made the doctor gnash his teeth as he leaned upon the instrument. What
right had Guy to command Maddy Clyde, and why should she obey? and
yet, as the doctor glanced at Guy, he felt that were he in Maddy's
place, he should do the same.
"No girl can resist Guy Remington," he thought. "I'm glad there's a
Lucy Atherstone over the sea." And with a smile of encouragement for
Maddy, who was pale with nervous timidity, he listened while her
sweet, birdlike voice trembled for a moment with fear; and then,
gaining from its own sound, filled the room with melody, and made
those who had wandered off to other parts of the building hasten back
to see who was singing.
Maria Cutler had presided at the piano earlier in the evening, as had
one or two other young ladies, but to none of these had Guy paid half
the attention he did to Maddy, staying constantly by her, holding her
fan, turning the leaves of music, and dictating what she should play.
"There's devotion," tittered a miss in long ringlets; "but she really
does play well," and she appealed to Maria Cutler, who answered, "Yes,
she keeps good time, and I should think might play for a dance. I mean
to ask her," and going up to Guy she said, "I wish to speak to--to--
well, Jessie's governess. Introduce me, please."
Guy waited till Maddy was through, and then gave the desired
introduction. In a tone not wholly free from superciliousness, Miss
Cutler said: "Can you play a waltz or polka, Miss Clyde? We are aching to exercise
our feet."
Maddy bowed and struck into a spirited waltz, which set many of the
people present to whirling in circles, and produced the result which
Maria so much desired, viz: it drove Guy away from the piano, for he
could not mistake her evident wish to have him as a partner, and with
his arm around her waist he was soon moving rapidly from that part of
the room, leaving only the doctor to watch Maddy's fingers as they
flew over the keys. Maddy never thought of being tired. She enjoyed
the excitement, and was glad she could do something toward
entertaining Guy's guests. But Guy did not forget her for an instant.
Through all the mazes of the giddy dance, he had her before his eye,
seeing not the clouds of lace and muslin encircled by his arm, but the
little figure in blue sitting so patiently at the piano until he knew
she must be tired, and determined to release her. As it chanced, Maria
was again his partner, and drawing her nearer to Maddy, he said, "Your
fingers ache by this time, I am sure. It is wrong to trouble you
longer. Agnes will take your place while you try a quadrille with me."