at schottische if it costs
a leg."

Without stopping to enquire whose leg might be in peril, Cameron
proceeded with his lesson, and he had not gone through many paces till
he began to recognise the magnitude of the task laid upon him. The
girl's sense of time was accurate enough, but she was undeniably awkward
and clumsy in her movements and there was an almost total absence of
coordination of muscle and brain. She had, however, suffered too long
and too keenly from her inability to join with the others in the dance
to fail to make the best of her opportunity to relieve herself of this
serious disability.

So, with fierce industry she poised, counted and hopped, according to
Cameron's instructions and example, with never a sign of weariness, but
alas with little indication of progress.

"Oh, shucks! I can't do it!" she cried at length, pausing in despair. "I
think we could do it better together. That's the way Mack and Isa do it.
I've seen them at it for an hour."

Cameron's heart sank within him. He had caught an exchange of glances
between the two young people mentioned and he could quite understand how
a lesson in the intricacies of the Highland schottische might very well
be extended over an hour to their mutual satisfaction, but he shrank
with a feeling of dismay, if not disgust, from a like experience with
the girl before him.

He was on the point of abruptly postponing the lesson when his eye fell
upon her face as she stood in the moonlight which streamed in through
the open door. Was it the mystic alchemy of the moon on her face, or
was it the glowing passion in her wonderful eyes that transfigured the
coarse features? A sudden pity for the girl rose in Cameron's heart and
he said gently, "We will try it together, Mandy."

He took her hand, put his arm about her waist, but, as he drew her
towards him, with a startled look in her eyes she shrank back saying
hurriedly:

"I guess I won't bother you any more to-night. You've been awfully good
to me. You're tired."

"Not a bit, Mandy, come along," replied Cameron briskly.

At that moment a shadow fell upon the square of moonlight on the floor.
Mandy started back with a cry.

"My! you scairt me. We were--Allan--Mr. Cameron was learnin' me the
Highland schottische." Her face and her voice were full of fear.

It was Perkins. White, silent, and rigid, he stood regarding them, for
minutes, it seemed, then turned away.

"Let's finish," said Cameron quietly.