“Of course I’ll go if you think I’d better,” she said, “though I’m not fond of Alaskan society.  Some of the women are nice, but the others—­” She shrugged her dainty shoulders.  “They talk scandal all the time.  One would think that a great, clean, fresh, vigorous country like this would broaden the women as it broadens the men—­ but it doesn’t.”

“I’ll tell McNamara to call for you at nine o’clock,” said the Judge as he arose.  So, later in the day she prepared her long unused finery to such good purpose that when her escort called for her that evening he believed her the loveliest of women.

Upon their arrival at the hotel he regarded her with a fresh access of pride, for the function proved to bear little resemblance to a mining-camp party.  The women wore handsome gowns, and every man was in evening dress.  The wide hall ran the length of the hotel and was flanked with boxes, while its floor was like polished glass and its walls effectively decorated.

“Oh, how lovely!” exclaimed Helen as she first caught sight of it.  “It’s just like home.”

“I’ve seen quick-rising cities before,” he said, “but nothing like this.  Still, if these Northerners can build a railroad in a month and a city in a summer, why shouldn’t they have symphony orchestras and Louis Quinze ballrooms?”

“I know you’re a splendid dancer,” she said.

“You shall be my judge and jury.  I’ll sign this card as often as I dare without the certainty of violence at the hands of these young men, and the rest of the time I’ll smoke in the lobby.  I don’t care to dance with any one but you.”

After the first waltz he left her surrounded by partners and made his way out of the ballroom.  This was his first relaxation since landing in the North.  It was well not to become a dull boy, he mused, and as he chewed his cigar he pictured with an odd thrill, quite unusual with him, that slender, gray-eyed girl, with her coiled mass of hair, her ivory shoulders, and merry smile.  He saw her float past to the measure of a two-step, and caught himself resenting the thought of another man’s enjoyment of the girl’s charms even for an instant.

“Hold on, Alec,” he muttered.  “You’re too old a bird to lose your head.”  However, he was waiting for her before the time for their next dance.  She seemed to have lost a part of her gayety.

“What’s the matter?  Aren’t you enjoying yourself?”

“Oh, yes!” she returned, brightly.  “I’m having a delightful time.”

When he came for his third dance, she was more distraite than ever.  As he led her to a seat they passed a group of women, among whom were Mrs. Champian and others whom he knew to be wives of men prominent in the town.  He had seen some of them at tea in Judge Stillman’s house, and therefore was astonished when they returned his greeting but ignored Helen.  She shrank slightly, and he realized that there was something wrong; he could not guess what.  Affairs of men he could cope with, but the subtleties of women were out of his realm.