Everybody chattered gaily, though Mr. Direck would have found it difficult to recall afterwards what it was they chattered about, except that somehow he acquired the valuable knowledge that Miss Corner was called Cecily, and her sister Letty, and then—­so far old Essex custom held—­the masculine section was left for a few minutes for some imaginary drinking, and a lighting of cigars and cigarettes, after which everybody went through interwoven moonlight and afterglow to the barn.  Mr. Britling sat down to a pianola in the corner and began the familiar cadences of “Whistling Rufus.”

“You dance?” said Miss Cecily Corner.

“I’ve never been much of a dancing man,” said Mr. Direck.  “What sort of dance is this?”

“Just anything.  A two-step.”

Mr. Direck hesitated and regretted a well-spent youth, and then Hugh came prancing forward with outstretched hands and swept her away.

Just for an instant Mr. Direck felt that this young man was a trifle superfluous....

But it was very amusing dancing.

It wasn’t any sort of taught formal dancing.  It was a spontaneous retort to the leaping American music that Mr. Britling footed out.  You kept time, and for the rest you did as your nature prompted.  If you had a partner you joined hands, you fluttered to and from one another, you paced down the long floor together, you involved yourselves in romantic pursuits and repulsions with other couples.  There was no objection to your dancing alone.  Teddy, for example, danced alone in order to develop certain Egyptian gestures that were germinating in his brain.  There was no objection to your joining hands in a cheerful serpent....

Mr. Direck hung on to Cissie and her partner.  They danced very well together; they seemed to like and understand each other.  It was natural of course for two young people like that, thrown very much together, to develop an affection for one another....  Still, she was older by three or four years.

It seemed unreasonable that the boy anyhow shouldn’t be in love with her....

It seemed unreasonable that any one shouldn’t be in love with her....

Then Mr. Direck remarked that Cissie was watching Teddy’s manoeuvres over her partner’s shoulder with real affection and admiration....

But then most refreshingly she picked up Mr. Direck’s gaze and gave him the slightest of smiles.  She hadn’t forgotten him.

The music stopped with an effect of shock, and all the bobbing, whirling figures became walking glories.

“Now that’s not difficult, is it?” said Miss Corner, glowing happily.

“Not when you do it,” said Mr. Direck.

“I can’t imagine an American not dancing a two-step.  You must do the next with me.  Listen!  It’s ‘Away Down Indiana’ ... ah!  I knew you could.”

Mr. Direck, too, understood now that he could, and they went off holding hands rather after the fashion of two skaters.