Miss Dane consulted her jeweled tablets, and discovered that the polka quadrille was the very next in order.
Shaking out her rosy skirts, she fluttered away, mercilessly bent on manslaughter. Every one made way for the daughter of the house, and in a moment she was beside Dr. Oleander, holding up the inlaid tablets, and smiling her brightest in his dazzled eyes.
"Such disgraceful conduct, Doctor Oleander! I have been searching for you everywhere. I appeal to you, Colonel Marshland; he engaged me for this quadrille. There is the music now, and he leaves me to hunt the house for him."
"Unpardonable," said the gallant colonel. "At his age I should have known better. Oleander, make your peace if you can."
The colonel made his bow, and then he walked away.
Dr. Oleander drew her arm inside his own, bending very low over the sparkling sprite.
"You are not implacable, I trust, Miss Mollie. It was all the colonel"s fault, I a.s.sure you."
Mollie shrugged her shoulders.
"Of course you say so. Oh, don"t wear that imploring face! I forgive you; but sin no more. There! they are waiting--come!"
All through the dance Miss Dane sparkled as she had never sparkled Before. Ere the quadrille was over, Dr. Oleander was ten fathoms deeper in love than ever.
"It is so very hot here!" Mollie exclaimed, impatiently--"perfectly stifling! Do let us go somewhere and get cool."
"Let us go into the conservatory," said Dr. Oleander, delightedly, quite unconscious that his fair enslaver was playing into his hand. "We are sure to find solitude and coolness there."
The conservatory was delightfully cool, after the African temperature of the ball-room. Alabaster lamps shed a pale sort of moonlight over the sleeping flowers, and splashing fountains, and marble G.o.ddesses.
Miss Dane sunk down under a large orange-tree and began fanning herself languidly.
"How nice--this half light, these perfumed roses, those tinkling water-falls, music, and solitude! Do I look like Love among the Roses, Doctor Oleander?"
"Yes; like Love, like Venus, like everything that is bright, and beautiful, and irresistible, Miss Dane!"
"Monsieur overwhelms me! Why, good gracious, sir! What do you mean?"
For Dr. Oleander had actually caught her in his arms and was pouring forth a pa.s.sionate declaration of love.
"Goodness me! Release me instantly! How dare you, sir? Have you taken leave of your senses, Doctor Oleander?"
"I am mad for love of you, beautiful Mollie! I adore you with my whole heart!"
"Do you, indeed?" said Mollie, looking angrily at her ruffled plumage.
"See my dress--not fit to be seen! I"m surprised at you, Doctor Oleander!"
"Mollie, I love you!"
"I don"t care--that"s no reason why you should spoil my lovely dress, and make me a perfect fright. You had no business going on in that outrageous manner, sir!"
"But, Mollie! Good heavens! will you listen to me? Never mind your dress."
"Never mind my dress?" cried Miss Dane, shrilly. "Doctor Oleander, you"re a perfect bear, and I"ve a good mind never to speak to you again as long as I live! Let us go back to the ball-room. If I had known you were going to act so, I"d have seen you considerably inconvenienced before I came with you here."
"Not until you answer me, Mollie."
"Answer you? Answer you what? You haven"t asked me any question."
"I told you I loved you."
"Well," testily, "you don"t call that a question?"
"Mollie, will you love me?"
"No--of course not! Oh, what a torment you are! Do let us go back!"
"Never!" exclaimed Dr. Oleander, gathering hope--"never, Mollie, until you answer me!"
He caught both her hands and held them fast, Mollie struggling in vain.
"Oh, dear, dear, what will I say? And there--if there isn"t some one coming in! Let me go, for pity"s sake, and I"ll answer you--to-morrow."
"To-night, Mollie--to-night!"
"I won"t--there!" wrenching her hands free and springing up. "Come to-morrow, between twelve and one, and you shall have your answer."
She darted away, and almost into the arms of Mr. Hugh Ingelow. That gentleman looked suspiciously from her to Dr. Oleander, emerging from the shadow of the orange-tree.
"Am I _de trop_, Miss Dane? I thought to find the conservatory deserted."
"And so it will be, in a minute," said Mollie, familiarly taking his arm. "They are going to supper out yonder, and I am almost famished.
Take me down."
"And, if I can, I will make you follow Guy Oleander"s lead before I release you," was the mental addition of the naughty coquette.
It was no difficult task to accomplish. A powder magazine with the train laid could not have needed a smaller spark to cause its explosion. Those few words elevated the young artist at once to the loftiest pinnacle of bliss.
"She has just refused Oleander, and I may stand a chance," he thought.
"I"ll ask her, by Jove! after supper."
Mr. Ingelow kept his word. He paid Miss Dane the most marked attention throughout the repast, filled her plate with delicacies and her ears with compliments. And Mollie was sweet as summer cherries, and took his arm when it was over, and let him lead her into a retired nook where amber curtains shut them in; and there, pale and agitated, the poor fellow said his say and waited for his sentence.
Mollie"s wicked heart smote her. She liked this handsome young artist more than she was aware of, and the first twinge of remorse for her merciless coquetry filled her mind.
But it was too late to pause in her mischief-making, and the fun ahead was too tempting.
"Speak, Miss Dane," Mr. Ingelow implored: "for pity"s sake, don"t say you have led me on only to jilt me in cold blood at the last!"
"Rather strong language, Mr. Ingelow," said Mollie, coolly pulling to pieces a rose. "I have not led you on, have I? I have been friendly with you because I liked you--as I have been with a dozen others."
"Then I am to consider myself rejected, Miss Dane?"