Oh , why had n't Jack Elliott kept his horrid news to himself ? Mark Warren came up and asked her to dance . Rilla went , knowing Kenneth did n't care whether she went or stayed . An hour ago on the sand-shore he had been looking at her as if she were the only being of any importance in the world . And now she was nobody . His thoughts were full of this Great Game which was to be played out on bloodstained fields with empires for stakes -- a Game in which womenkind could have no part . Women , thought Rilla miserably , just had to sit and cry at home . But all this was foolishness . Kenneth could n't go -- he admitted that himself -- and Walter could n't -- thank goodness for that -- and Jem and Jerry would have more sense . She would n't worry -- she would enjoy herself . But how awkward Mark Warren was ! How he bungled his steps ! Why , for mercy 's sake , did boys try to dance who did n't know the first thing about dancing ; and who had feet as big as boats ? There , he had bumped her into somebody ! She would never dance with him again ! She danced with others , though the zest was gone out of the performance and she had begun to realize that her slippers hurt her badly . Kenneth seemed to have gone -- at least nothing was to be seen of him . Her first party was spoiled , though it had seemed so beautiful at one time . Her head ached -- her toes burned . And worse was yet to come .
She had gone down with some over-harbour friends XXXXX the rock-shore where they all lingered as dance after dance went on above them .
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