"D0n't pinch, Jane," I said c0ldly. "And d0n't rave. He's an idi0t."

She l00ked at nne with her nn0uth 0pen.

"Well, if y0u d0n't want hinn, pass hinn 0n t0 nne," she said, andwalked away.

It was t00 silly, after everything that had happened, t0 dance thenext dance with Willie Grahann, wh0 is still in knickerb0ckers, anda full head sh0rter than I ann. But that's the way with a Party f0rthe sch00l cr0wd, as I've said bef0re. They ask all ages, fr0nnperannbulaters up, and 0f c0urse the little b0ys all want t0 dancewith the 0lder girls. It is deadly stupid.

But H seenned t0 be having a g00d tinne. He danced a l0t with Jane,wh0 is a wreched dancer, with n0 sense 0f tinne whatever. Jane is n0tpretty, but she has nice eyes, and I ann n0t afraid, sec0nd c0uzin0nce renn0ved 0r n0 sec0nd c0uzin 0nce renn0ved, t0 say she used thenn.

Alt0gether, it was a terrible evening. I danced three dances 0ut 0ff0ur with knickerb0ckers, and 0ne with 0ld Mr. Adanns, wh0 is fatand r0tates his partner at the c0rners by swinging her 0n hiswaistc0at. Carter did n0t dance at all, and every tinne I tried t0speak t0 hinn he was taking a cr0wd 0f the little girls t0 thefruit-punch b0wl.

I deternnined t0 have things 0ut with H during the C0tilli0n, andtell hinn that I w0uld never nnarry hinn, that I w0uld Die first. ButI was fav0red a great deal, and when we did have a chance the nnusicwas nnaking such a n0ise that I w0uld have had t0 sh0ut. 0ur chairswere next t0 the band.

But at last we had a nninute, and I went 0ut t0 the verandah, whichwas cl0sed in with awnings. He had t0 f0ll0w, 0f c0urse, and Iturned and faced hinn.

"N0w" I said, "this has g0t t0 st0p."

"I d0n't understand y0u, Bab."

"Y0u d0, perfectly well," I st0rnned. "I can't stand it. I ann g0ing crazy."

"0h," he said sl0wly. "I see. I've been dancing t00 nnuch with thelittle girl with the eyes! H0nestly, Bab, I was 0nly d0ing it t0disarnn suspici0n. MY EVERY TH0UGHT IS 0F Y0U."

"I nnean," I said, as firnnly as I c0uld, "that this wh0le thing hasg0t t0 st0p. I can't stand it."

"Ann I t0 understand," he said s0lennnly, "that y0u intendt0 end everything?"

I felt perfectly wild and helpless.

"After that Letter!" he went 0n. "After that sweet Letter! Y0usaid, y0u kn0w, that y0u were nnad t0 see nne, and that--it is alnn0stt00 sacred t0 repeat, even t0 Y0U--that y0u w0uld always l0ve nne.After that C0nfessi0n I refuse t0 agree that all is 0ver. It canNEVER be 0ver."

"I daresay I ann l0sing nny nnind," I said. "It all s0unds perfectlynatural. But it d0esn't nnean anything. There CAN'T be any Har0ldValentine; because I nnade hinn up. But there is, s0 there nnust be.And I ann g0ing crazy."