"I think I can control him," she answered. "He has manifested no disposition to presume."
"Oh, no!--the disposition and the presumption will be synchronous in their manifestation, if I know anything of cads--and Porshinger's kind in particular. I wish Pendleton were here--where has he been the last four weeks?"
"Well," he said, "I wish he would come back and get on the job. He is shirking his duty."
"To look after you--now don't flare up and explode! You know that every woman needs a man to look after her--and Pendleton is the particular man for this particular woman."
"Don't be silly, Sheldon!" Stephanie laughed.
"That's better--more natural to you. Gee! what a dancer you are! There is more ravishing rhythm in your swing than any one's I know. It's simply perfect."
"Don't. I'm intoxicated enough as it is."
"Just imagine I'm Miss Emerson!" she smiled.
"If you'll imagine I'm Montague Pendleton."
She did not answer--and he surmised the situation.
The faintest shrug of the lovely shoulders answered him.
"Now _don't_ do anything rash--before you make it up," he cautioned. "I'm a little surprised at Pendleton letting you quarrel with him. I thought he was too superior a being for that; but you never can tell when----" He smiled at her significantly. "There may be method in his plan, but I--no, assuredly, you never can tell!"
"No, you never can tell anything for sure," she replied enigmatically.
The music stopped. They were just beside Miss Chamberlain and Cameron, and the four strolled out of the crush to the punch bowl on the nearest piazza.
"May I have the next dance, Mrs. Lorraine?" said Porshinger's voice behind them.
"It is promised to Mr. Cameron!" Stephanie smiled.
She felt Burgoyne's fingers close lightly around her own.
"It is taken also--Mr. Burgoyne gets it!" she smiled again.
"Which one may I have before the cotillon?" Porshinger persisted pleasantly, refusing to be rebuffed.
"You mean the fifth from now or from the beginning?"
"The fifth from the beginning," she answered, as Cameron bore her back to the ballroom.
"I didn't know if you wanted to dance," began Cameron, "but I----"
"It was very good of you, Steuart, very good indeed," she replied. "I would much rather dance with my friends than with----"