‚ÄúMiss Jones‚ÅÝ‚Äî Mr. ¬ÝAlwyn of‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù she paused a second‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚ÄúAlabama. Miss Taylor‚ÅÝ‚Äî Mr. ¬ÝAlwyn‚ÅÝ‚Äîand,‚Äù with a backward curving of her neck, ‚Äú Mr. ¬ÝTeerswell,‚Äù and so on. Mr. ¬ÝTeerswell was handsome and indolent, with indecision in his face and a cynical voice. In a moment Bles felt the subtle antagonism of the group. He was an intruder. Mr. ¬ÝTeerswell nodded easily and turned away, continuing his conversation with the ladies.
But Miss Wynn was perverse and interrupted. ‚ÄúI saw you enjoyed the concert, Mr. ¬ÝAlwyn,‚Äù she said, and one of the young ladies rippled audibly. Bles darkened painfully, realizing that these people must have been just behind him. But he answered frankly:
‚ÄúYes, I did immensely‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI hope I didn‚Äôt disturb you; you see, I‚Äôm not used to hearing such singing.‚Äù
Mr. ¬ÝTeerswell, compelled to listen, laughed drily.
“Plantation melodies, I suppose, are more your specialty,” he said with a slight cadence.
“Yes,” said Bles simply. A slight pause ensued.
Then came the surprise of the evening for Bles Alwyn. Even his inexperienced eye could discern that Miss Wynn was very popular, and that most of the men were rivals for her attentions.
‚Äú Mr. ¬ÝAlwyn,‚Äù she said graciously, rising. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm going to trouble you to see me to my door; it‚Äôs only a block. Good night, all!‚Äù she called, but she bowed to Mr. ¬ÝTeerswell.
Miss Wynn placed her hand lightly on Bles’s arm, and for a moment he paused. A thrill ran through him as he felt again the weight of a little hand and saw beside him the dark beautiful eyes of a girl. He felt again the warm quiver of her body. Then he awoke to the lighted church and