and one day as summer was waning , ernest white brought a big band into town for her and had them play in the town 's square at night beneath paper lanterns while he taught her dance steps , and most of the town came out from their homes in twos and threes to join them , and nearly everybody found an excuse to celebrate something , and ernest white was in a crowd and yet alone with her , and he was as happy as he ever thought he 'd be .