This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...has been such a delightful evening; only--you didn't dance? Your father says you never do. Don't you really?" "No--never!" said Ralph with emphasis. "Dear me!" ejaculated Patience. "But it's so nice. I wonder you don't. Did you never think you would like to try?" "What sort of a hand should I make at it if I did?" ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...has been such a delightful evening; only--you didn't dance? Your father says you never do. Don't you really?" "No--never!" said Ralph with emphasis. "Dear me!" ejaculated Patience. "But it's so nice. I wonder you don't. Did you never think you would like to try?" "What sort of a hand should I make at it if I did?" asked Ralph almost bitterly. (He had too much natural courtesy, rough as he was, to answer her as he had answered Mr. Meredith.) "You've seen enough of me by this time, I should think, to guess what I'd look like in a ball-room. You might as soon set a bear to dance." "Well, if you can't dance, you can at any rate do other things," said Patience after a moment, with a little change in her tone. "And mind," she added quickly, "though I may never speak of it again, I shan't forget that. Now, don't say anything, please!" And with this, ejaculated hurriedly, she quickened her steps, for the others had reached the gate, and in another moment she was bidding the Squire good-night; but when she proceeded next to give her hand to Ralph it rested for a second in his palm, and that brief, mute lingering--like the little soft touch of a bird--left him (after all the dreariness of the evening) with the glad blood rushing through his veins. "You haven't enjoyed your day very much, I'm afraid. What's been wrong, my lad?" the Squire asked his son quietly when they had turned away. But Ralph's mood had changed so entirely in the last few minutes, that he broke at this question into a laugh that was as bright and happy as a boy's, and--"Oh--nothing, father," he answered cheerily. "One only goes up and down. I think I was a bit down to-night--but I've had h...
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