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were one of them。 In his present exaltation he was not astonished
to find that she had evidently picked up the art in her late visit；
and was now waltzing with quiet grace and precision； but he was
surprised that her partner was far from being equally perfect； and
that after a few turns she stopped and smilingly disengaged her
waist from his arm。 As she stepped back she turned with unerring
instinct to that part of the room where the master stood； and raised
her eyes through the multitude of admiring faces to his。 Their eyes
met in an isolation as supreme as if they had been alone。 It was an
attraction the more dangerous because unformulateda possession
without previous pledge； promise； or even intentiona love that did
not require to be 〃made。〃
He approached her quietly and even more coolly than he thought
possible。 〃Will you allow me a trial？〃 he asked。
She looked in his face； and as if she had not heard the question
but was following her own thought； said； 〃I knew you would come； I
saw you when you first came in。〃 Without another word she put her
hand in his； and as if it were part of an instinctive action of
drawing closer to him； caught with her advancing foot the accent of
the waltz； and the next moment the room seemed to slip away from
them into whirling space。
The whole thing had passed so rapidly from the moment he approached
her to the first graceful swing of her full skirt at his side； that
it seemed to him almost like the embrace of a lovers' meeting。 He
had often been as near her before； had stood at her side at school；
and even leaned over her desk； but always with an irritated
instinct of reserve that had equally affected her； and which he now
understood。 With her conscious but pale face so near his own； with
the faint odor of her hair clinging to her； and with the sweet
confusion of the half lingering； half withheld contact of her hand
and arm； all had changed。 He did not dare to reflect that he could
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。