Of  course,"  she  added  with  careless  insolence,  "Pop  has
got  it  all  over  Dr.  Surtaine  socially.
"  I  humbly  feel  that  I  am  addressing  local  royalty,"  said
Hal,  smiling  sardonically.
"Who?  Me?  Oh,  I'm  only  the  irresponsible  child  of
wealth  and  power.  Dr.  Merritt  called  me  that  once  —
before  I  got  him  tamed."  Turning  to  look  at  the  gray
young  man  who  stood  not  far  off,  and  noting  the  quiet
force  and  competence  of  the  face,  Hal  hazarded  a  guess
to  himself  that  the  very  frank  young  barbarian  with  whom
he  was  talking  was  none  too  modest  in  her  estimate  of  her
own  capacities.  "Mrs.  Willard  is  our  local  queen,"  she
continued.  "And  Esm6  Elliot  is  the  princess.  Have  you
met  Esme'  yet?"

"Yes."

"Then,  of  course,  nobody  else  has  a  chance  —  so  long
as  you're  the  newest  toy.  Still,  you  might  find  a  spare
hour  between-times  to  come  and  call  on  us.  Come  on;
let's  dance."

"Pert"  was  the  mildest  term  to  which  Hal  reduced  his
characterization  of  Miss  Pierce,  by  the  time  the  one-step

86


A   PARTNERSHIP

ended.  Nevertheless,  he  admitted  to  himself  that  he  had
been  amused.  His  one  chief  concern  now,  however,  was
the  engagement  with  Miss  Elliot.
When  finally  his  number  came  around,  he  found  her
calmly  explaining  to  a  well-favored  young  fellow  with  a
pained  expression  that  he  must  have  made  a  mistake  about
the  number,  while  Mrs.  Willard  regarded  her  with  mingled
amusement  and  disfavor.
"  Don't  expect  me  to  dance,"  she  said  as  Hal  approached.
"  I  've  twisted  my  foot."

"I'm  sorry,"  said  he  blankly.
