Free Listening Valley by D. E. Stevenson Page B

at the next table.
    Tonia ate lobster and drank champagne, but Mr. Norman contented himself with a glass of beer and some crackers, explaining apologetically that this fare was more suited to his age and constitution.
    â€œI can eat anything,” Tonia replied.
    â€œBut you can’t drink anything,” said Mr. Norman, smiling at her and removing her glass. “It’s extremely interfering of me, I know, but unless you have a fairly strong head I would advise you to confine yourself to two glasses of champagne.”
    â€œOh!” exclaimed Tonia in surprise. “Yes, it’s true. I feel a little funny already. What a good thing you thought about that, wasn’t it?”
    She felt slightly elated; the lights seemed more brilliant, the noise of chatter and laughter seemed to have grown in volume, and it was all tremendous fun. Even the sight of Frank, making his way toward them across the room, had no power to disturb her.
    â€œYou cut out my dance,” said Frank, pausing by the table. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
    â€œI forgot all about it,” replied Tonia, smiling happily.
    â€œYou forgot!”
    â€œYes,” said Tonia, nodding.
    Frank Melville was not used to being forgotten. He looked at his cousin in surprise. He had thought her dull and uninteresting and rather plain, but he was forced to change his mind about her. “Oh, I see,” said Frank in a doubtful sort of voice. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I just came to tell you that your mother is looking for you.”
    â€œIs she?” said Tonia, unperturbed.
    â€œShe wants you to come,” urged Frank.
    â€œWell, you might just tell her I’m having supper with Mr. Norman,” said Tonia, nodding at him kindly.
    Frank hesitated for a moment and then departed to carry out her behest.
    â€œThat’s the way to treat him,” declared Mr. Norman, chuckling delightedly. “I said he needed a lesson, didn’t I?”
    They spent a long time over their supper and nobody disturbed them. Mr. Norman was a keen historian and was particularly interested in the history of Edinburgh. He found to his amazement that Tonia knew almost as much about the subject as he did and had visited various ancient houses that had now degenerated into appalling slums.
    â€œWho took you to Michael Scott’s house?” asked Mr. Norman, looking at her with his piercing blue eyes.
    â€œNobody,” replied Tonia. “Lou and I went together. It was awfully dirty, of course, but the people were very nice to us.”
    â€œDon’t go there again,” said Mr. Norman.
    Tonia looked at him in surprise. The conversation had re-aroused her interest in Edinburgh’s history, and she had just that moment decided to make another visit to the place.
    They danced once more when they had finished their supper, and then Mrs. Melville managed to find her daughter and dragged her away. Mrs. Melville was tired and cross, for she was not used to dancing and the evening had not come up to her expectations.
    Mr. Melville had passed the time more pleasantly; he had made contact with an old flame who was still very attractive, and he had seen Tonia dancing with Norman and looking gay and pretty. “It was a splendid show,” declared Mr. Melville with complacency as he climbed into the taxi and sat down beside his wife. “They did us well, didn’t they? I saw you enjoying yourself, Tonia.”
    â€œIt was lovely,” Tonia said.
    â€œI’ve been looking for you for hours,” said Mrs. Melville. “Do you know it’s nearly four o’clock?”
    â€œI was dancing with Mr. Norman,” replied Tonia. “He’s nice, isn’t he? He asked me to go to tea with him tomorrow. He has a collection of old glass bottles, and he said he would show them to me.”
    â€œWhat an extraordinary idea!” Mrs. Melville exclaimed.
    â€œThere’s nothing