Freda! He could swear it by
the furs, did he not know that poise of head so well. The last one to
expect in all the world. He had given her better judgment than to thus
venture the ignominy of refusal, or, if she passed, the scorn of women.
He shook his head, without scrutiny; he knew her too well to be mistaken.
But she pressed closer. She lifted the black silk ribbon and as quickly
lowered it again. For one flashing, eternal second he looked upon her
face. It was not for nothing, the saying which had arisen in the
country, that Freda played with men as a child with bubbles. Not a word
was spoken. Prince stepped aside, and a few moments later might have
been seen resigning, with warm incoherence, the post to which he had been
unfaithful.
* * * * *
A woman, flexible of form, slender, yet rhythmic of strength in every
movement, now pausing with this group, now scanning that, urged a
restless and devious course among the revellers. Men recognized the
furs, and marvelled,--men who should have served upon the door committee;
but they were not prone to speech. Not so with the women. They had
better eyes for the lines of figure and tricks of carriage, and they knew
this form to be one with which they were unfamiliar; likewise the furs.
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