"
"He did," put in Henderson dryly. "Is it the custom here to allow no
other man to dance with one's friends?"
"No," she said, "it is not. But he--Carlos is very jealous."
After the dance the officer came up to Henderson again.
"You heard me," he muttered. "I cannot bear with this."
Again Henderson turned on his heel and again he asked her for the next
dance. She had it with the sailor, but promised him the one after.
It was warm inside, so after their waltz Fred and the girl went out on
a little balcony which hung low over the brook. The moon was high in
the heavens, and shone softly through the whispering leaves. From up
the valley a gentle breeze brought the heavy scent of the roses.
"It is so hot inside," the girl said, her voice so low that it seemed
part of the night, "and out here it is so cool and--and wonderful."
Again she came close. "For to-night you are my cavalier, and I am your
lady. Oh, if to-night could but be every night. You are so big and
kind and--different."
"And you," he said, with the romance of it mounting to his head, "you
are more than different.
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