A fancy dance by Georgie Bassett and Baby Rennsdale was customary at every party attended by members of the Friday Afternoon Dancing Class; but Marjorie and Carlie Chitten were new performers, and Penrod had not heard that they had learned to dance "Les Papillons" together.

He was the further embittered.
Carlie made a false step, recovering himself with some difficulty, whereupon a loud, jeering squawk of laughter was heard from the insurgent cluster, which had been awed to temporary quiet but still maintained its base in the drawing-room doorway.

There was a general "SH!" followed by a shocked whispering, as well as a general turning of eyes toward Penrod.

But it was not Penrod who had laughed, though no one would have credited him with an alibi.

The laughter came from two throats that breathed as one with such perfect simultaneousness that only one was credited with the disturbance.