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never again approach her except with this feeling。 He did not dare
to think of anything； he abandoned himself to the sense that had
begun with the invasion of her hair…bound myrtle in the silent
school…room； and seemed to have at last led her to his arms。 They
were moving now in such perfect rhythm and unison that they seemed
scarcely conscious of motion。 Once when they neared the open
window he caught a glimpse of the round moon rising above the
solemn heights of the opposite shore； and felt the cool breath of
mountain and river sweep his cheek and mingle a few escaped threads
of her fair hair with his own。 With that glimpse and that
sensation the vulgarity and the tawdriness of their surroundings；
the guttering candles in their sconces； the bizarre figures； the
unmeaning faces seemed to be whirled far into distant space。 They
were alone with night and nature； it was they who were still； all
else had receded in a vanishing perspective of dull reality； in
which they had no part。
Play on； O waltz of Strauss！ Whirl on； O love and youth！ For you
cannot whirl so swiftly but that this receding world will return
again with narrowing circle to hem you in。 Faster； O cracked
clarionet！ Louder； O too brazen bassoon！ Keep back； O dull and
earthy environment； till master and pupil have dreamed their
foolish dream！
They are in fancy alone on the river…bank； only the round moon
above them and their linked shadows faintly fluttering in the
stream。 They have drawn so closely together now that her arm is
encircling his neck； her soft eyes uplifted like the moon's
reflection and drowning into his； closer and closer till their
hearts stop beating and their lips have met in a first kiss。
Faster； O little feet！ swing clear； O Cressy's skirt and keep the
narrowing circle back！ 。 。 。 They are again alone； the judges'
dais and the emblazoning of the State caught in a single whirling
flash of consciousness are changed to an altar； seen dimly through
the bridal veil that covers her fair head。 There is the murmur of
voices mingling two lives in one。 They turn and pass proudly down
between the aisles of wondering festal faces。 Ah！ the circle is
drawing closer。 One more quick whirl to keep them back； O flying
skirt and dainty…winged feet！ Too late！ The music stops。 The
tawdry walls shut in again； the vulgar crowds return； they stand
pale and quiet； the centre of a ring of breathless admiring；
frightened； or forbidding faces。 Her arms fold like wings at her
side。 The waltz is over。
A shrill feminine chorus assail her with praises； struck here and
there with a metallic ring of envy； a dozen all…daring cavaliers；
made reckless by her grace and beauty； clamor for her hand in the
next waltz。 She replies； not to them； but to him； 〃Not again；〃 and
slips away in the crowd with that strange new shyness that of all
her transformations seems the most delicious。 Yet so conscious are
they of their mutual passion that they do not miss each other； and
he turns away as if their next meeting were already an appointed
tryst。 A few congratulate him on his skill。 Johnny's paragon
looks after him curiously； certain elders shake hands with him
perplexedly； as if not quite sure of the professional consistency
of his performance。 Those charming tide…waiters on social success；
the fair； artfully mingling expectation with compliment； only
extract from him the laughing statement that this one waltz was the
single exception allowed him from the rule of his professional
conduct； and he refers them to his elder critics。 A single face；
loutish； looming； and vindictive； stands on among the crowdthe
face of Seth Davis。 He had not seen him since he left the school；
he had forgotten his existence； even now he only remembered his
successor； Joe Masters； and he looked curiously around to see if
that later suitor of Cressy's was present。 It was not until he
reached the door that he began to think seriously of Seth Davis's
jealous face； and was roused to a singular indignation。 〃Why
hadn't this great fool vented his jealousy on the openly
compromising Masters；〃 he thought。 He even turned and walked back
with some vaguely aggressive instinct； but the young man had
disappeared。 With this incident still in his mind he came upon
Uncle Ben and Hiram McKinstry standing among the spectators in the
doorway。 Why might not Uncle Ben be jealous too？ and if his single
waltz had really appeared so compromising why should not Cressy's
father object？ But both menalbeit； McKinstry usually exhibited a
vague unreasoning contempt for Uncle Benwere unanimous in their
congratulations and outspoken admiration。
〃When I see'd you sail in； Mr。 Ford；〃 said Uncle Ben； with abstract
reflectiveness； 〃I sez to the fellers； 'lie low； boys； and you'll
see style。' And when you put on them first steps； I sez； 'that's
Frenchthe latest high…toned French styleouter the best masters；
andand outer the best books。 For why？' sez I。 'It's the same
long； sliding stroke you see in his copies。 There's that long up
sweep； and that easy curve to the right with no hitch。 That's the
sorter swing he hez in readin' po'try too。 That's why it's called
the po'try of motion；' sez I。 'And you ken bet your boots； boys；
it's all in the trainin' o' education。'〃
〃Mr。 Ford；〃 said Mr。 McKinstry gravely； slightly waving a lavender…
colored kid glove； with which he had elected to conceal his maimed
hand； and at the same moment indicate a festal occasion： 〃I hev to
thank ye for the way you took out that child o' mine； like ez she
woz an ontried filly； and put her through her paces。 I don't dance
myself； partikly in that gaitwhich I take to be suthin' betwixt a
lope and a canter and I don't get to see much dancin' nowadays on
account o' bein' worrited by stock； but seein' you two together
just now； suthin' came over me； and I don't think I ever felt so
kam in my life。〃
The blood rushed to the master's cheek with an unexpected
consciousness of guilt and shame。 〃But；〃 he stammered awkwardly；
〃your daughter dances beautifully herself； she has certainly had
practice。〃
〃That；〃 said McKinstry； laying his gloved hand impressively on the
master's shoulder； with the empty little finger still more
emphasized by being turned backward in the net； 〃that may be ez it
ez； but I wanted to say that it was the simple； easy； fammily touch
that you gev it； that took me。 Toward the end； when you kinder
gathered her up and she sorter dropped her head into your breast…
pocket； and seemed to go to sleep； like ez ef she was still a
little girl； it so reminded me of the times when I used to tote her
myself walkin' by the waggin at Platt River； that it made me wish
the old woman was here to see it。〃
Still coloring； the master cast a rapid； sidelong glance at
McKinstry's dark red face and beard； but in the slow satisfaction
of his features there was no trace of that irony which the master's
self…consciousness knew。
〃Then your wife is not here？〃 said Mr。 Ford abstractedly。
〃She war at church。 She reckoned that I'd do to look arter Cressy
she bein'； so to speak； under conviction。 D'ye mind walkin' this
way a bit； I want to speak a word with ye？〃 He put his maimed hand
through the master's arm； after his former fashion； and led him to
a corner。
〃Did ye happen to see Seth Davis about yer？〃
〃I believe I saw him a moment ago；〃 returned Mr。 Ford half
contemptuously。
〃Did he get off anythin' rough on ye？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said the master haughtily。 〃Why should he dare？〃
〃That's so；〃 said McKinstry meditatively。 〃You had better keep
right on in that line。 That's your gait； remember。 Leave himor
his fatherit's the same thingto ME。 Don't YOU let yourself be
roped in to this yer row betwixt me and the Davises。 You ain't got
no call to do it。 It's already been on my mind your bringin' that
gun to me in the Harrison row。 The old woman hadn't oughter let
younor Cress either。 Hark to me； Mr。 Ford！ I reckon to stand
between you and both the Davises till the cows come homeonly
mind YOU give him the go…by when he happens to meander along
towards you。〃
〃I'm very much obliged to you；〃 said Ford with disproportionately
sudden choler； 〃but I don't propose to alter my habits for a
ridiculous school…boy whom I have dismissed。〃 The unjust and
boyish petulance of his speech instantly flashed upon him； and he
felt his cheek burn again。
McKinstry regarded him with dull； red； slumbrous eyes。 〃Don't you
go to lose your best holt； Mr。 Fordand that's kam。 Keep your
kamand you've allus got the dead wood on Injin Springs。 I ain't
got it；〃 he continued； in his slowest； most passionless manner；
〃and a row more or less ain't much account to mebut YOU； you keep
your kam。〃 He paused； stepped back； and regarding the master； with
a slight wave of his crippled hand over his whole person