A long, lanky, stooping young man, with a pale, care-worn face and
grayish hair, and dressed in a homespun jacket and trousers, came up to
the sisters.
"Dance, Hannah?" he inquired.
"No, thank you, Reuben; take Nora out--she would like to."
"Dance, Nora?" said Reuben Gray, turning obediently to the younger
sister.
"Set you up with it, after asking Hannah first, right before my very
eyes. I'm not a-going to take anybody's cast-offs, Mr. Reuben!"
"I hope you are not angry with, me for that, Nora? It was natural I
should prefer to dance with your sister. I belong to her like, you know.
Don't be mad with me," said Reuben meekly.
"Nonsense, Rue! you know I was joking. Make Hannah dance; it will do her
good; she mopes too much," laughed Nora.
"Do, Hannah, do, dear; you know I can't enjoy myself otherways," said
the docile fellow.
"And it is little enjoyment you have in this world, poor soul!" said
Hannah Worth, as she rose and placed her hand in his.
"Ah, but I have a great deal, Hannah, dear, when I'm along o' you," he
whispered gallantly, as he led her off to join the dancers.
And they were soon seen tritting, whirling, heying, and selling with the
best of them--forgetting in the contagious merriment of the music and
motion all their cares.
Nora was besieged with admirers, who solicited her hand for the dance.
But to one and all she returned a negative. She was tired with her long
walk, and would not dance, at least not this set; she preferred to sit
still and watch the others. So at last she was left to her chosen
occupation. She had sat thus but a few moments, her eyes lovingly
following the flying forms of Reuben and Hannah through the mazes of the
dance, her heart rejoicing in their joy, when a soft voice murmured at
her ear.
"Sitting quite alone, Nora? How is that? The young men have not lost
their wits, I hope?"
She started, looked up, and with a vivid blush recognized her young
landlord. He was bending over her with the same sweet ingenuous smile
that had greeted her when their eyes first met that morning. She drooped
the long, dark lashes over her eyes until they swept her carmine cheeks,
but she did not answer.
"I have just deposited my mother and sisters in their drawing-room, and
I have returned to look at the dancers. May I take this seat left vacant
by your sister?" he asked.