The chairs and benches, piled high along the side of the great room, left a secluded passageway running close against the wall.

Along this the two young women moved silently, catching merely occasional glimpses of the wild revelry upon the other side of that rude barrier, unseen themselves until within twenty feet of the street door.

There Miss Norvell hesitated her anxious eyes searching the mixed crowd of dancers now for the first time fully revealed.

Even as she gazed upon the riot, shocked into silence at the inexpressible profligacy displayed, and ashamed of her presence in the midst of it, a merry peal of laughter burst through the parted lips of the Mexican dancer.
"_Dios de Dios_, but I had all forgot dis vas your night for de dance, senor.

But you no so easy forget Mercedes, hey ?" He stood directly before them, plainly embarrassed, gripping his disreputable hat in both hands like a great bashful boy, his face reddening under her smiling eyes, his voice appearing to catch within his throat.