They looked down on women knitting.
Mrs. Witherspoon and a party of young people sat in a box adjoining
Derry's. Ralph was there and Alma Drew, and Alma was more than ever
lovely in gold-embroidered tulle.
Ralph knew what had happened when he saw Jean dancing with Derry.
There was no mistaking the soft raptures of the youthful pair. In the
days to come Ralph was to suffer wounds, but none to tear his heart
like this. And so when he danced with Jean a little later he did not
spare her.
"A man with money always gets what he wants."
"I don't know what you mean."
"I think you do. You are going to marry Derry Drake."
She shrank at this. She had in her meetings with Derry never looked
beyond the bliss of the moment. To have Ralph's rough fingers tearing
at the veil of her future was revolting.
She breathed quickly. "I shan't dance with you, if you speak of it
again."
"You shall dance with me," grimly, "this moment is my own--"
She was like wax in his strong arms. "Oh, how dare you." She was cold
with auger. "I want to stop."
"And I could dance forever. That's the irony of it--that I cannot make
you.
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