our of his
neck. The passage of that long rough tongue athwart his skin gave him an
agreeable sensation, awakened a strange deep sense of comradeship. He
restrained his desire to stroke the creature's nose. It appeared that
they now all wished to taste his neck; but some were timid, and the touch
of their tongues simply a tickle, so that he was compelled to laugh, and
at that peculiar sound they withdrew and gazed at him. There seemed to
be no one with them; then, at a little distance, quite motionless in the
shade of a rock, he spied the goatherd, a boy about his own age. How
lonely he must be up here all day! Perhaps he talked to his goats. He
looked as if he might. One would get to have queer thoughts up here, get
to know the rocks, and clouds, and beasts, and what they all meant. The
goatherd uttered a peculiar whistle, and something, Lennan could not tell
exactly what, happened among the goats--a sort of "Here, Sir!" seemed to
come from them. And then the goatherd moved out from the shade and went
over to the edge of the plateau, and two of the goats that were feeding
there thrust their noses into his hand, and rubbed themselves against his
legs. The three looked beautiful standing there together on the edge
against the sky. . . .

That night, after dinner, the dining-room was cleared for dancing, so
that the guests might feel freedom and gaiety in the air. And, indeed,
presently, a couple began sawing up and down over the polished boards, in
the apologetic manner peculiar to hotel guests. Then three pairs of
Italians suddenly launched themselves into space--twirling and twirling,
and glaring into each other's eyes; and some Americans, stimulated by
their precept, began airily backing and filling. Two of the 'English
Grundys' with carefully amused faces next moved out. To Lennan it seemed
that they all danced very well, better than he could. Did he dare ask
HER? Then he saw the young violinist go up, saw her rise and take his
arm and vanish into the dancing-room; and leaning his forehead against a
window-pane, with a sick, beaten feeling, he stayed, looking out into the
moonlight, seeing nothing. He heard his name spoken; his tutor was
standing beside him.

"You and I, Lennan, must console each other. Dancing's for the young,
eh?"

Fortunately it was the boy's instinct and his training not to show his
feelings; to be pleasant, though suffering.

"Yes, sir. Jolly moonlight, isn't it, out there?