She smiled at Ikey when he looked in her direction, saying: "Do you
want a partner?"
His gloom turned to rapture. "Oh! Mrs. Howard, will you?"
"I'll try," she answered, as they took their places, his heart beating
quickly with pride and delight. And never was a dance performed with
more reverent devotion.
"Why, Aunt Zelie, that is not fair!" called Carl, as he and Dora
danced down the middle and back again.
"I didn't know you danced, Mrs. Howard," said Jim, upon whom Ikey cast
a triumphant glance.
When it was over she was besieged with partners for another, but she
refused, declaring it was too late.
So ended Uncle William's surprise party.
When the door had closed on the last guest and Bess at the piano was
playing a snatch of a waltz, Carl pounced upon his aunt and carried
her off before she knew it.
"Ikey shall not get ahead of _me_," he said, as after sailing twice
around the room he dropped her breathless on the sofa.
CHAPTER XXIII.
JIM.
For various reasons, after a flourishing existence of two winters, the
G.N. Club was given up, or perhaps it should be said was merged in the
Order of the Big Front Door, which still held monthly meetings, and
whose members wore their silver keys and tried in different ways to
carry out their motto.
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