They were to dance that night in the mess-room of the officers at
Newcastle. This scheme had been added on as an adjunct to the
picnic, and it therefore became necessary that the ladies should
retire to their own or their friends' houses at Newcastle to adjust
their dresses. Marian Leslie and Julia Davis were there accommodated
with the loan of a small room by the major's wife, and as they were
brushing their hair, and putting on their dancing-shoes, something
was said between them about Maurice Cumming.
"And so you are to be Mrs. C. of Mount Pleasant," said Julia. "Well;
I didn't think it would come to that at last."
"But it has not come to that, and if it did why should I not be Mrs.
C., as you call it?"
"The knight of the rueful countenance, I call him."
"I tell you what then, he is an excellent young man, and the fact is
you don't know him."
"I don't like excellent young men with long faces. I suppose you
won't be let to dance quick dances at all now."
"I shall dance whatever dances I like, as I have always done," said
Marian, with some little asperity in her tone.
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