Sally and Shirley had scarcely crossed the circle and were melting into the crowd, when someone tapped Sally on the shoulder.

“Teddy!” exclaimed both girls at once.

“The same, your obedient coz,” replied the good looking young fellow, eager to show at once how well he had learned his lesson.

“Come over here,” breathed Sally.  “I am just dying to speak to you.”

“No fair,” cautioned Shirley.  “Don’t forget your lines, Kit.”

“Say, girls, tell me,” implored the youth, letting his critical eye scale the crowd of pretty girls, “what’s this your name is?  You’re—­” to Sally.

“I’m Sally,” she replied, twinkling prettily, “and this is Shirley,” indicating Bobbie.

“Shirley?” he echoed increduously.

“Yes, and please don’t ask any more questions just now, Cousin Ted.  I have promised to introduce you to half of Wellington.”  This was said so that more than one girl standing near overheard; one was Nettie Brocton and she quickly took the cue.

“Just look at that?” she said to Ted Guthrie.  “Sally acts as if the Teddy were her especial cousin.”

“Yes, and Shirley is all but blushing.”

“Queer,” commented Ted Guthrie.

Presently the music suggested a One Step and without waiting for further coaxing Shirley and the handsome Ted floated out among the assembling dancers.

He was handsome, and, although that fact seems trite just here, it may better be known and reckoned with.  He was tall, light, nimble and flexible as a young birch, as he swayed in and out leading the excited Bobbie.

“Guess I’ll have to call you Bobbie, too,” he said in his partner’s ear, after more than one girl had pointedly called out, “Hello, Bobbie!”

“Yes, do, please,” replied Bobbie.  “I am getting so accustomed to it I rather feel it is really mine.”

“Suits you splendidly,” said Ted, with a boy’s idea of compliments being put on thick at dances.  “And I am sure I would give the game away if I ever tried on the Shirley.”

Bobbie acquiesced just in time to feel Judith Stearns’ black eyes demanding to know Teddy.  The dancers stopped, and after an introduction Bobbie was swept off her feet by a new partner, while Judith glided off with Teddy.

“Where is Sally?” asked Judith, not seeing the little butterfly on the floor.

“Sally?” repeated the bewildered Ted.  Then he recovered himself.  “Oh, yes, Cousin Sally.  She’s just over there,” pointing to Jane’s “Bosky Dell” in a far corner.

“Your cousin?” repeated the shrewd Judith.

“Yes, little coz, I allus calls her,” he lisped, to cover any possible attempt at piercing his disguise.

“But she said she was not related to Bobbie?” persisted the irrepressible Judith.

“She isn’t,” frankly offered Ted.  “She is only related to me.  Oh, I say, Miss Stearns,” he broke off.  “Who’s the golden girl over by the punch bowl?”