seven of the calculating persons about the
entry-ways bore down upon Miss Morgan to secure dances. George had to do
with one already established as a belle, it seemed.

"Give me the next and the one after that," he said hurriedly, recovering
some presence of mind, just as the nearest applicant reached them. "And
give me every third one the rest of the evening."

She laughed. "Are you asking?"

"What do you mean, 'asking'?"

"It sounded as though you were just telling me to give you all those
dances."

"Well, I want 'em!" George insisted.

"What about all the other girls it's your duty to dance with?"

"They'll have to go without," he said heartlessly; and then, with
surprising vehemence: "Here! I want to know: Are you going to give me
those--"

"Good gracious!" she laughed. "Yes!"

The applicants flocked round her, urging contracts for what remained,
but they did not dislodge George from her side, though he made it
evident that they succeeded in annoying him; and presently he
extricated her from an accumulating siege--she must have connived in the
extrication--and bore her off to sit beside him upon the stairway that
led to the musicians' gallery, where they were sufficiently retired, yet
had a view of the room.

"How'd all those ducks get to know you so quick?" George inquired, with
little enthusiasm.

"Oh, I've been here a week."

"Looks as if you'd been pretty busy!" he said. "Most of those ducks, I
don't know what my mother wanted to invite 'em here for."

"Oh, I used to see something of a few of 'em. I was president of a club
we had here, and some of 'em belonged to it, but I don't care much for
that sort of thing any more. I really don't see why my mother invited
'em."

"Perhaps it was on account of their parents," Miss Morgan suggested
mildly. "Maybe she didn't want to offend their fathers and mothers."

"Oh, hardly! I don't think my mother need worry much about offending
anybody in this old town."

"It must be wonderful," said Miss Morgan. "It must be wonderful, Mr.
Amberson--Mr. Minafer, I mean."

"What must be wonderful?"

"To be so important as that!"

"That isn't 'important," George assured her. "Anybody that really is
anybody ought to be able to do about as they like in their own town, I
should think!"

She looked at him critically from under her shading lashes--but her eyes
grew gentler almost at once. In truth, they became more appreciative
than critical. George's imperious goo