Kenneth was tired of inquiries about his ankle . But then he had not often been asked about it by lips with such an adorable kissable dent just above them . Perhaps that was why he answered very patiently that it was getting on well and did n't trouble him much , if he did n't walk or stand too long at a time . `` They tell me it will be as strong as ever in time , but I 'll have to cut football out this fall . '' They danced together and Rilla knew every girl in sight envied her . After the dance they went down the rock steps and Kenneth found a little flat and they rowed across the moonlit channel to the sand-shore ; they walked on the sand till Kenneth 's ankle made protest and then they sat down among the dunes . Kenneth talked to her as he had talked to Nan and Di . Rilla , overcome with a shyness she did not understand , could not talk much , and thought he would think her frightfully stupid ; but in spite of this it was all very wonderful -- the exquisite moonlit night , the shining sea , the tiny little wavelets swishing on the sand , the cool and freakish wind of night crooning in the stiff grasses on the crest of the dunes , the music sounding faintly and sweetly over the channel . '' ' A merry lilt o ' moonlight for mermaiden revelry , ' '' quoted Kenneth softly from one of Walter 's poems . And just he and she alone together in the glamour of sound and sight ! If only her slippers did n't bite so ! and if only she could talk cleverly like Miss Oliver -- nay , if she could only talk as she did herself to other boys ! But words would not come , she could only listen and murmur little commonplace sentences now and again . But perhaps her dreamy eyes and her dented lip and her slender throat talked eloquently for her . At any rate Kenneth seemed in no hurry to suggest going back and when they did go back supper was in progress . He found a seat for her near the window of the lighthouse kitchen and sat on the sill beside her while she ate her ices and cake . Rilla looked about her and thought how lovely her first party had been . She would never forget it . The room re-echoed to laughter and jest . Beautiful young eyes sparkled and shone .
From the pavilion outside came the lilt XXXXX the fiddle and the rhythmic steps of the dancers .
After If beside from in of on that to while