"You sound just like Douglas and Father. Will you go to war if it comes?"

"Why, of course! Would you have me do otherwise?"

"I--I--don't know," and Helen wished she had not asked the question that had called forth this query. This night was to be one of pleasure, feasting and dancing. War had no place in her thoughts when she had on her new dress and the music was coming from Richmond.

CHAPTER XVII

THE BALL

"Music and lights put me all in a flutter!" exclaimed Helen as they approached the broad and hospitable mansion.

Already there were several buggies and carriages in the gravelled driveway. The guests were arriving early, as sensible country people should. Let the city folks wait until far in the night to begin their revels, but those living in the country as a rule feel that b.a.l.l.s should start early and break up early.

"Do you care so much for parties?"

"I think I must. I have not been to very many b.a.l.l.s, because you see I am not out in society yet. I reckon I'll never make my debut now," and Helen gave a little sigh.

"Does it make so very much difference to you?"

"Well, not so much as it would have a year ago. I used to feel that making one's debut was a goal that was of the utmost importance, but somehow now I do feel that there are things a little bit more worth while."

"What for instance?"

"Getting Father well, and--and----"

"And what?"

"You might think I am silly if I tell you,--silly to talk about it."

"I promise to think you are you no matter what else it is, and you are--well, never mind what you are."

"Well, somehow I have begun to feel that helping people to be gay is important, like cheering up Miss Ella and Miss Louise. They have such stupid times. I really believe they quarrel just to make life a little gayer. I go to see them every day and it makes me feel good all over to know how much they like to have me come."

"And you were afraid I'd think that was silly?" asked George Wright as he halted his car down under a great willow oak, well away from the other vehicles. How he wished they were to stay out under that tree all evening! Music and dancing were nothing to him compared to the pleasure he obtained from talking to this girl.

"Let's sit here until the others come," he suggested.

"And waste all that good music!"

Dr. Wright began to envy the Misses Grant whom Helen wanted to make happy.

"Of course not! I forgot how seldom you have a chance to dance."

Weston was wonderfully beautiful. The electric lights may have been an anomaly, but they certainly helped to make the old house show what it was capable of. The dead and gone colonials who had built the place had been forced either to have their b.a.l.l.s by daylight or to content themselves with flickering candles, which no doubt dropped wax or even tallow on the handsome gowns of the beauties and belles. The broad hall with the great rooms on each side seemed to be made for dancing. The floor was polished to a dangerous point for the unwary, but the unwary had no business on a ballroom floor.

The count seemed in his element as he received his guests, but Herz looked thoroughly out of place and ill at ease.

"Ah, Miss Helen! I am so glad to welcome you--and Dr. Wright--it is indeed kind of you to come! I am depending upon you, Miss Helen, to help me entertain these people who have come so promptly. They neither dance nor speak. Herz is about as much use to me on this occasion as a porcupine would be. Only look around the room at my guests!"

They did indeed look most forlorn. One old farmer was almost asleep while his wife sat bolt upright by his side with a long sad face and a deep regret in her eyes. No doubt, she was regretting the comfortable grey wrapper she had discarded for the stiff, best, green silk, and the broad easy slippers that had been replaced by the creaking shoes.

Several girls with shining eyes and alert expressions were evidently wondering what ailed the young men who stood against the wall as though it might fall down if they budged an inch.

"Why are they wasting all this good music?" demanded Helen.

"As you say in America: 'Seek me!'" laughed the host.

"Search me, you mean."

"Ah, but is it not almost the same? What do you say, Dr. Wright?"

"Well, I'd rather someone would seek me than search me."

"So! And now, Miss Helen, if you will discard your wraps and return quickly and help me I shall be most grateful. If these poor people do not get started they will go to sleep."

Helen flew up to the dressing-room which, sure enough, Chloe had reached before her. The girl was huddled down in a corner of the room looking the picture of woe.

"Did you see Tempy?" asked Helen, taking for granted that Chloe had been speaking of her sister when she had asked about one's duty to one's own people.

"No'm!"

"Wasn't she at your mother's?"

"I don't know, 'm!"

"Was your mother there?"

"Ya.s.sum!"

There was never any use in trying to make Chloe talk when she had decided not to, so Helen threw off her wraps and with a peep in the mirror where one could see from top to toe, she hastened to the aid of Count de Lestis.

"Mother will be along soon and she can do wonders with people who are bashful," declared Helen, "but I'll try my hand at it until she comes.

They must dance, then they will thaw out."

"Certainly, and will you dance with me to show them how?"

Helen forgot all about the fact that she had come with Dr. Wright and he might reasonably expect to claim the first dance.

"Yes, but you must introduce me to all these people and I'll ask some of the girls to dance while you go get the young men to come fall in the breach."

The shiny-eyed girls were willing enough and the young men seemed to think if the count didn't mind his walls falling down, far be it from them to hold them up, so in a few moments the sad crowd were in a gale of good humor. The old farmer waked up and his wife looked as though she might try her new creaky shoes on the waxed floor if anyone would only ask her.

Dr. Wright looked on rather grimly as Helen was whisked from under his very nose. He might have stood it better if the count had not been such a perfect dancer and so very handsome. He had a way of whispering to his partner during the dance that was also a sore trial to the young physician.

"What could he be saying to Helen to make her dimple and blush?"