the cotillon that we have an even number of so many couples, and if it should happen that someone comes and her partner has sent her a polite note that he has genuine reasons why he cannot come, the note must be handed at once to me, so that I arrange some other partner. Is all understood? Yes. The gentlemen will remember now to allow the ladies plenty of time to reach their houses and prepare to receive calls. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your polite attention."

It was nine blocks to the house of Marjorie Jones; but Penrod did it in less than seven minutes from a flying start--such was his haste to lay himself and his hand for the cotillon at the feet of one who had so recently spoken unamiably of him in public. He had not yet learned that the only safe male rebuke to a scornful female is to stay away from her--especially if that is what she desires. However, he did not wish to rebuke her; simply and ardently he wished to dance the cotillon with her. Resentment was swallowed up in hope.

The fact that Miss Jones' feeling for him bore a striking resemblance to that of Simon Legree for Uncle Tom, deterred him not at all. Naturally, he was not wholly unconscious that when he should lay his hand for the cotillon at her feet it would be her inward desire to step on it; but he believed that if he were first in the field Marjorie would have to accept. These things are governed by law.Penrod complied vociferously with this requirement until the thumb
was removed and a fishy or medicinal odour revealed itself to his nostrils;
then he choked and sputtered, turning a strange colour."What's that?" he gasped."A little valerian and aloes," Samuel explained. "It's pop's
medicine.""It IS medicine!" Penrod eyed the bottle with new respect. "What's
valerian and lizards?"Sam Williams looked thoughtful."I don't know," he said, at last. "I guess it's something pop puts in to
camouflage the rest of it so he can get it down--himself, I mean.""You mean hisself he takes it?""Sure, I guess he does." Penrod was profoundly impressed. "Mean to
say you drank it?""I didn't drink much." Samuel apparently was a little impressed by his
own bravery, for he added, "No, sir; I didn't drink much."Nor would Penrod. The odour clung about his breathing apparatus in a
way that discouraged potations."I got a whole lot more'n that left yet, too," said Sam. "Some of 'em's
got names on 'em that if you take 'em without a doctor "'twould be
poison."Penrod's interest began to revive."Lemme look," he said eagerly. "Lemme see 'em.""ALL right," Sam agreed, with a certain air of proprietorship. "Come on
over here."Thus encouraged, Penrod left the aquarium, and, walking round the
tail of Della's 

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