and patted his hand.

Rollo heaved a great sigh of disappointment when the play was over.
Then looking about at the audience he said, "Does it not seem strange,
Uncle George, to see all these people fully clothed? I vow I had
forgotten that there were such things as dresses."

"And how did you like the play?" asked Uncle George.

"It was superb, sir," said Rollo politely. "And much pleasanter than
the 'Battle of Gettysburg.'"

"Good," said his uncle, "and now we shall go to supper."

"Bless my soul!" cried Rollo. "Is not the evening over?"

"No indeed," replied Uncle George, "it is but just beginning."

"Hurray! Hurray!" shouted Rollo, tossing his cap in the air.

The place where Rollo and Uncle George and Mr. Ross went for supper
was high up on the top of a tall building. At the entrance a gentleman
held a red velvet rope across the door, but he smiled pleasantly when
he saw Uncle George and let them pass to the annoyance of a number of
people who were waiting. This of course pleased Rollo not a little.

"What is the name of this place?" asked Rollo.

"It is called the _Place Blanche_," explained Uncle George. "French is
the language spoken by the people who name New York restaurants. If a
restaurant should have a name which a taxi-driver could pronounce
correctly, it would not last a week!"

"It is very crowded," said Rollo, "and the space for dancing seems
quite small."

"That too is carefully arranged for," said his uncle. "People like to
eat in stuffy, uncomfortable places. As for dancing, it is much better
to dance when one is pressed hard against several other couples, for
if you do not happen to care particularly for your partner you can
close your eyes and imagine you are dancing with a number of other
ladies at the same time."

[Illustration: "It was but the work of a moment to undress and leap
into bed"]

"What strange music!" said Rollo.

"It is indeed so," agreed Mr. Ross. "We are gradually getting away
from the old-fashioned instruments such as violins and flutes. You
will notice, Rollo, that in the orchestra are two drums, a pair of
cymbals, a siren, and a pistol; also the pianist does not use his
fingers but his clenched fists."

Rollo fully expected that this time at least Uncle George would not
forget to ask the blessing, but lo! a second time he did so, perhaps
because he was at the time very much occupied trying to get the cork
out of a large bottle, which he had managed to conce