It had a quaver in it, not pathetic--rather humorous than pathetic--a quality which annoyed him to the point of rage, because it was so difficult to get away from.
She seemed to be having a "wonderful time!" An unbearable soreness accumulated in his chest: his dislike of the girl and her conduct increased until he thought of leaving this sickening Assembly and going home to bed.

That would show her! But just then he heard her laughing, and decided that it wouldn't show her.

So he remained.
When the young couples seated themselves in chairs against the walls, round three sides of the room, for the cotillion, George joined a brazen-faced group clustering about the doorway--youths with no partners, yet eligible to be "called out" and favoured.

He marked that his uncle placed the infernal Kinney and Miss Morgan, as the leading couple, in the first chairs at the head of the line upon the leader's right; and this disloyalty on the part of Uncle George was inexcusable, for in the family circle the nephew had often expressed his opinion of Fred Kinney.

In his bitterness, George uttered a significant monosyllable.
The music flourished; whereupon Mr.Kinney, Miss Morgan, and six of their neighbours rose and waltzed knowingly.