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〃Yes； that will be best；〃 said Milray。 〃But I shall give you a letter to
my sister。 She and I used to be famous cronies； and we went to a great
many parties together when we were young people。 We thought the world
was a fine thing； then。 But it changes。〃
He fell into a muse； and they were both sitting quite silent when Mrs。
Milray came round the corner of the music room in the course of her
twentieth or thirtieth compass of the deck； and introduced her lord to
her husband and to Clementina。 He promptly ignored Milray； and devoted
himself to the girl； leaning over her with his hand against the bulkhead
behind her and talking down upon her。
Lord Lioncourt must have been about thirty； but he had the heated and
broken complexion of a man who has taken more than is good for him in
twice that number of years。 This was one of the wrongs nature had done
him in apparent resentment of the social advantages he was born to； for
he was rather abstemious； as Englishmen go。 He looked a very shy person
till he spoke； and then you found that he was not in the least shy。 He
looked so English that you would have expected a strong English accent of
him； but his speech was more that of an American； without the nasality。
This was not apparently because he had been much in America； he was
returning from his first visit to the States； which had been spent
chiefly in the Territories； after a brief interval of Newport he had
preferred the West； he liked rather to hunt than to be hunted； though
even in the West his main business had been to kill time； which he found
more plentiful there than other game。 The natives； everywhere； were much
the same thing to him； if he distinguished it was in favor of those who
did not suppose themselves cultivated。 If again he had a choice it was
for the females； they seemed to him more amusing than the males； who
struck him as having an exaggerated reputation for humor。 He did not
care much for Clementina's past； as he knew it from Mrs。 Milray； and if
it did not touch his fancy； it certainly did not offend his taste。 A
real artistocracy is above social prejudice； when it will； he had known
some of his order choose the mothers of their heirs from the music halls；
and when it came to a question of distinctions among Americans； he could
not feel them。 They might be richer or poorer； but they could not be
more patrician or more plebeian。
The passengers； he told Clementina； were getting up； at this point of the
ship's run； an entertainment for the benefit of the seaman's hospital in
Liverpool； that well…known convention of ocean…travel； which is sure at
some time or other； to enlist all the talent on board every English
steamer in some sort of public appeal。 He was not very clear how he came
to be on the committee for drumming up talent for the occasion； his
distinction seemed to have been conferred by a popular vote in the
smoking room； as nearly as he could make out； but here he was； and he was
counting upon Miss Claxon to help him out。 He said Mrs。 Milray had told
him about that charming affair they had got up in the mountains； and he
was sure they could have something of the kind again。 〃Perhaps not a
coaching party； that mightn't be so easy to manage at sea。 But isn't
there something elsesome tableaux or something？ If we couldn't have
the months of the year we might have the points of the compass； and you
could take your choice。〃
He tried to get something out of the notion； but nothing came of it that
Mrs。 Milray thought possible。 She said； across her husband； on whose
further side she had sunk into a chair； that they must have something
very informal； everybody must do what they could； separately。 〃I know
you can do anything you like； Clementina。 Can't you play something； or
sing？〃 At Clementina's look of utter denial； she added； desperately；
〃Or dance something？ 〃A light came into the girl's face at which she
caught。 〃I know you can dance something！ Why； of course！ Now； what is
it？〃
Clementina smiled at her vehemence。 〃Why； it's nothing。 And I don't
know whether I should like to。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 urged Lord Lioncourt。 〃Such a good cause； you know。〃
〃What is it？〃 Mrs。 Milray insisted。 〃Is it something you could do
alone？〃
〃It's just a dance that I learned at Woodlake。 The teacha said that all
the young ladies we'e leaning it。 It's a skut…dance〃
〃The very thing！〃 Mrs。 Milray shouted。 〃It'll be the hit of the
evening。〃
〃But I've never done it before any one；〃 Clementina faltered。
〃They'll all be doing their turns；〃 the Englishman said。 〃Speaking； and
singing； and playing。〃
Clementina felt herself giving way； and she pleaded in final reluctance；
〃But I haven't got a pleated skut in my steama trunk。〃
〃No matter！ We can manage that。〃 Mrs。 Milray jumped to her feet and
took Lord Lioncourt's arm。 〃Now we must go and drum up somebody else。〃
He did not seem eager to go； but he started。 〃Then that's all settled；〃
she shouted over her shoulder to Clementina。
〃No； no； Mrs。 Milray！ 〃Clementina called after her。 〃The ship tilts
so〃
〃Nonsense！ It's the smoothest run she ever made in December。 And I'll
engage to have the sea as steady as a rock for you。 Remember； now；
you've promised。〃
Mrs。 Milray whirled her Englishman away； and left Clementina sitting
beside her husband。
〃Did you want to dance for them； Clementina？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know；〃 she said； with the vague smile of one to whom a pleasant
hope has occurred。
〃I thought perhaps you were letting Mrs。 Milray bully you into it。 She's
a frightful tyrant。〃
〃Oh； I guess I should like to do it； if you think it would benice。〃
〃I dare say it will be the nicest thing at their ridiculous show。〃
Milray laughed as if her willingness to do the dance had defeated a
sentimental sympathy in him。
〃I don't believe it will be that；〃 said Clementina； beaming joyously。
〃But I guess I shall try it； if I can find the right kind of a dress。〃
〃Is a pleated skirt absolutely necessary；〃 asked Milray； gravely。
〃I don't see how I could get on without it；〃 said Clementina。
She was so serious still when she went down to her state…room that Mrs。
Lander was distracted from her potential ailments to ask： 〃What is it；
Clementina？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 Mrs。 Milray has got me to say that I would do something at
a concert they ah' going to have on the ship。〃 She explained； 〃It's that
skut dance I learnt at Woodlake of Miss Wilson。〃
〃Well； I guess if you're worryin' about that you needn't to。〃
〃Oh； I'm not worrying about the dance。 I was just thinking what I should
wear。 If I could only get at the trunks！〃
〃It won't make any matte what you wear；〃 said Mrs。 Lander。 〃It'll be the
greatest thing； and if 't wa'n't for this sea…sickness that I have to
keep fightin' off he'a； night and day； I should come up and see you
myself。 You ah' just lovely in that dance； Clementina。〃
〃Do you think so； Mrs。 Landa？〃 asked the girl； gratefully。 〃Well； Mr。
Milray didn't seem to think that I need to have a pleated skut。 Any
rate； I'm going to look over my things； and see if I can't make something
else do。〃
XVII。
The