Daintily she tripped the twenty-four steps of that intricate, ancient dance of the Celt people, whirling, balancing, poising, snapping her fingers, and twinkling her feet in the true Highland style, till once more her father's face smoothed out its wrinkles, and beamed like a harvest moon.
Hughie gazed, uncertain whether to allow himself to admire Jessac's performance, or to regard it with a boy's scorn, as she was only a girl.

And yet he could not escape the fascination of the swift, rhythmic movement of the neat, twinkling feet.
"Well done, Jessac, lass," said her father, proudly.

"But what would the minister be saying at such frivolity ?" he added, glancing at Hughie.
"Huh! he can do it himself well enough," said Hughie, "and I tell you what, I only wish I could do it." "I'll show you," said Jessac, shyly, but for the first time in his life Hughie's courage failed, and though he would have given much to be able to make his feet twinkle through the mazes of the Highland reel, he could not bring himself to accept teaching from Jessac.

If it had only been Thomas or Billy Jack who had offered, he would soon enough have been on the floor.

For a moment he hesitated, then with a sudden inspiration, he cried, "All right.