Free Listening Valley by D. E. Stevenson Page A

discovering to her surprise that she could talk to him quite easily. “It’s artificial, but there’s a great deal of tradition and history behind it.”
    â€œWhy, of course there is! People have always danced since David danced before the Ark of the Lord…but you weren’t thinking of that.”
    â€œI was thinking of Waterloo,” admitted Tonia.
    â€œYou were! That’s odd. I was thinking of it too. They danced while the enemy was approaching, didn’t they?”
    â€œDo you mean—”
    â€œYes.” Mr. Norman nodded. “We’re dancing and Germany is making guns. But this is neither the time nor the place to talk of guns. What else were you thinking about?”
    â€œLou,” replied Tonia. “She’s my sister. She’s married, you know, and I miss her terribly. If she were here it would be quite perfect. Everything is more fun with Lou.”
    â€œThere are people like that—people who bring out the colors of life.”
    â€œOh yes !” cried Tonia. “Yes, Lou’s like that.”
    They looked at each other gravely.
    â€œMy mother was like that,” said Mr. Norman. “Perhaps you think I’m too old to have a mother, but she was only eighteen years older than I. She didn’t seem old because she understood things so well. She believed in me.”
    â€œLike Lou,” breathed Tonia. “Lou never thinks I’m silly.”
    â€œAre you silly?” inquired Mr. Norman smiling.
    â€œI do silly things.”
    â€œWe all do.”
    â€œYes, sometimes, perhaps, but not all the time like me.”
    There had been an interval during their conversation, but now the band began to play “The Blue Danube,” and the floor was suddenly full of dancers.
    â€œShall we dance?” asked Mr. Norman. “I’m an old-fashioned sort of person, but I can waltz quite passably and I love this tune.”
    Tonia loved it too. She rose at once and the next moment he had swept her onto the floor. She had never danced with a man before, only with other girls at the dancing class, so dancing with Mr. Norman was a revelation to her. She felt like thistledown in his strong capable arms. He danced beautifully in a conventional, dignified manner and was able to suit his step to his inexperienced partner, so they got on very well indeed. Tonia’s color rose and her eyes sparkled and she began to realize the enchantment of rhythm and synchronized movement—no wonder everybody looked so happy and gay. The band played splendidly and the swish…swish…swish of the dancers’ feet provided an exciting accompaniment to the tune. When the dance came to an end, Tonia was eager for more and she clapped as heartily as anybody.
    â€œThere’s a young fellow over there,” said Mr. Norman as he slipped his arm around Tonia’s waist and prepared to resume the dance. “I think he’s looking at you. Is he one of your party?”
    â€œIt’s Frank,” replied Tonia. “Oh dear, I believe this is the one he said he would dance with me. Perhaps we had better stop,” she added, her step faltering a little as she spoke.
    Mr. Norman took no notice except to hold her more firmly.
    â€œDoesn’t it matter?” she asked.
    â€œNot in the least,” replied her partner. “The young man needs a lesson, I fancy.”
    Tonia had no idea what he meant by this enigmatic statement.
    By the time the waltz was over Frank had disappeared, so Mr. Norman took her downstairs to the supper room and they sat down at a table in the corner. Mr. Norman seemed to know a good many people (he smiled and bowed to them but did not speak), and he seemed to know the waiters, too, for he obtained instant attention. It’s because he’s nice, thought Tonia as she listened to him talking to the waiter and ordering the food, and she contrasted his behavior with that of a very bombastic young man