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rate； I'm going to look over my things； and see if I can't make something
else do。〃
XVII。
The entertainment was to be the second night after that； and Mrs。 Milray
at first took the whole affair into her own hands。 She was willing to
let the others consult with her； but she made all the decisions； and she
became so prepotent that she drove Lord Lioncourt to rebellion in the
case of some theatrical people whom he wanted in the programme。 He
wished her to let them feel that they were favoring rather than favored；
and she insisted that it should be quite the other way。 She professed a
scruple against having theatrical people in the programme at all； which
she might not have felt if her own past had been different； and she spoke
with an abhorrence of the stage which he could by no means tolerate in
the case。 She submitted with dignity when she could not help it。
Perhaps she submitted with too much dignity。 Her concession verged upon
hauteur； and in her arrogant meekness she went back to another of her
young men； whom she began to post again as the companion of her
promenades。
He had rather an anxious air in the enjoyment of the honor； but the
Englishman seemed unconscious of its loss； or else he chose to ignore it。
He frankly gave his leisure to Clementina； and she thought he was very
pleasant。 There was something different in his way from that of any of
the other men she had met； something very natural and simple； a way of
being easy in what he was； and not caring whether he was like others or
not； he was not ashamed of being ignorant of anything he did not know；
and she was able to instruct him on some points。 He took her quite
seriously when she told him about Middlemount； and how her family came to
settle there； and then how she came to be going to Europe with Mrs。
Lander。 He said Mrs。 Milray had spoken about it； but he had not
understood quite how it was before； and he hoped Mrs。 Lander was coming
to the entertainment。
He did not seem aware that Mrs。 Milray was leaving the affair more and
more to him。 He went forward with it and was as amiable with her as she
would allow。 He was so amiable with everybody that he reconciled many
true Americans to his leadership； who felt that as nearly all the
passengers were Americans； the chief patron of the entertainment ought to
have been some distinguished American。 The want of an American who was
very distinguished did something to pacify them； but the behavior of an
English lord who put on no airs was the main agency。 When the night came
they filled the large music room of the 'Asia Minor'； and stood about in
front of the sofas and chairs so many deep that it was hard to see or
hear through them。
They each paid a shilling admittance； they were prepared to give
munificently besides when the hat came round； and after the first burst
of blundering from Lord Lioncourt； they led the magnanimous applause。
He said he never minded making a bad speech in a good cause； and he made
as bad a one as very well could be。 He closed it by telling Mark Twain's
whistling story so that those who knew it by heart missed the paint； but
that might have been because he hurried it； to get himself out of the way
of the others following。 When he had done； one of the most ardent of the
Americans proposed three cheers for him。
The actress whom he had secured in spite of Mrs。 Milray appeared in
woman's dress contrary to her inveterate professional habit； and followed
him with great acceptance in her favorite variety…stage song； and then
her husband gave imitations of Sir Henry Irving； and of Miss Maggie Kline
in 〃T'row him down； McCloskey；〃 with a cockney accent。 A frightened
little girl； whose mother had volunteered her talent； gasped a ballad to
her mother's accompaniment； and two young girls played a duet on the
mandolin and guitar。 A gentleman of cosmopolitan military tradition； who
sold the pools in the smoking…room； and was the friend of all the men
present； and the acquaintance of several； gave selections of his
autobiography prefatory to bellowing in a deep bass voice； 〃They're
hanging Danny Deaver；〃 and then a lady interpolated herself into the
programme with a kindness which Lord Lioncourt acknowledged； in saying
〃The more the merrier；〃 and sang Bonnie Dundee； thumping the piano out of
all proportion to her size and apparent strength。
Some advances which Clementina had made for Mrs。 Milray's help about the
dress she should wear in her dance met with bewildering indifference； and
she had fallen back upon her own devices。 She did not think of taking
back her promise； and she had come to look forward to her part with a
happiness which the good weather and the even sway of the ship
encouraged。 But her pulses fluttered； as she glided into the music room；
and sank into a chair next Mrs。 Milray。 She had on an accordion skirt
which she had been able to get out of her trunk in the hold； and she felt
that the glance of Mrs。 Milray did not refuse it approval。
〃That will do nicely； Clementina；〃 she said。 She added； in careless
acknowledgement of her own failure to direct her choice； 〃I see you
didn't need my help after all；〃 and the thorny point which Clementina
felt in her praise was rankling； when Lord Lioncourt began to introduce
her。
He made rather a mess of it； but as soon as he came to an end of his
well…meant blunders； she stood up and began her poses and paces。 It was
all very innocent； with something courageous as well as appealing。 She
had a kind of tender dignity in her dance； and the delicate beauty of her
face translated itself into the grace of her movements。 It was not
impersonal； there was her own quality of sylvan； of elegant in it； but it
was unconscious； and so far it was typical； it was classic； Mrs。 Milray's
Bostonian achieved a snub from her by saying it was like a Botticelli；
and in fact it was merely the skirt…dance which society had borrowed from
the stage at that period； leaving behind the footlights its more
acrobatic phases； but keeping its pretty turns and bows and bends。
Clementina did it not only with tender dignity； but when she was fairly
launched in it； with a passion to which her sense of Mrs。 Milray's
strange unkindness lent defiance。 The dance was still so new a thing
then； that it had a surprise to which the girl's gentleness lent a
curious charm； and it had some adventitious fascinations from the
necessity she was in of weaving it in and out among the stationary
armchairs and sofas which still further cramped the narrow space where
she gave it。 Her own delight in it shone from her smiling face； which
was appealingly happy。 Just before it should have ended； one of those
wandering waves that roam the smoothest sea struck the ship； and
Clementina caught herself skilfully from falling； and reeled to her seat；
while the room rang with the applause and sympathetic laughter for the
mischance she had baffled。 There was a storm of encores； but Clementina
called out； 〃The ship tilts so！〃 and her naivete won her another burst of
favor； which was at its height when Lord Lioncourt had an inspiration。
He jumped up and said； 〃Miss Claxon is go