Camilla became interested
at once, and when he brought Arthur over and introduced
him, Camilla's friendly smile set him at his ease. Then
Jim generously vacated his seat and went to find Nellie
Slater.
"Select your partners for a square dance!" big John, the
caller-off announced, when the floor was cleared. This
was the dance that Mr. and Mrs. Slater would have to
dance. It was in vain that Mrs. Slater whispered that
she had not danced for years, that she was a Methodist
bred and born. That did not matter. Her son Peter declared
that his mother could dance beautifully, jigs and hornpipes
and things like that. He had often seen her at it when
she was down in the milkhouse alone.
Mrs. Slater whispered dreadful threats; but her son Peter
insisted, and when big John's voice rang out "Honors
all," "Corners the same," Mrs. Slater yielded to the tide
of public opinion.
Puffing and blowing she got through the "First four right
and left," "Right and left back and ladies' chain"; but
when it came to "Right hand to partner" and "Grand right
and left," it was good-bye to mother! Peter dashed into
the set to put his mother right, but mother was always
pointing the wrong way. "Swing the feller that stole the
sheep," big John sang to the music; "Dance to the one
that drawed it home," "Whoop 'er up there, you Bud,"
"Salute the one that et the beef" and "Swing the dog,
that gnawed the bone." "First couple lead to the right,"
and mother and father went forward again and "Balance
all!" Tonald McKenzie was opposite mother; Tonald McKenzie
did steps--Highland fling steps they were.
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