Read Online Listening Valley by D. E. Stevenson - Free Book Online Page B

day she received a note from him enclosing four tickets for the New Club Ball, which was to take place shortly at the Assembly Rooms. The note was short and to the point and had evidently been dashed off in a hurry.
    To make up for a dull afternoon — R . K. Norman .
    â€œI can’t go, of course,” said Tonia with conviction.
    â€œYou can’t go!” exclaimed Mr. Melville. “Of course you can go. Norman would think it very odd if you didn’t go. It’s dashed good of him to send you the tickets.”
    â€œWe’ll all go,” declared Mrs. Melville. “I haven’t danced for years, and the New Club is always a good ball. Perhaps Frank would like to make up the party. I’ll ring him up.”
    â€œI don’t want to go,” said Tonia in agonized tones, for the prospect of meeting so many strangers, of dancing with them and trying to talk to them filled her with dismay.
    â€œNonsense,” replied Mr. Melville. “You’ll enjoy it. I’ll stand you a new dress.”

Chapter Seven
The Ball
    â€œSuch a lovely frock!” exclaimed Maggie, slipping the white net ball gown over Tonia’s head. “You suit it, too.”
    â€œDo you think so?” asked Tonia. She was looking at herself in the pier glass and she was not particularly pleased with what she saw. Mother had chosen the dress and had insisted on white.
    â€œIt’s a pity you’re so pale and thin,” said Maggie. “You don’t eat enough, that’s what. Maybe you’ll look better when you’ve had a good dinner.”
    Tonia laughed mirthlessly.
    â€œNow then,” said Maggie, trying to be encouraging. “It’s no use taking on about it. There’s plenty of girls would give their eyes for a figure like you. It’s fashionable.”
    â€œI look like a ghost.”
    â€œNot you. Maybe your arms are a bit skinny…and your neck. Will you wear your pink scarf?”
    Tonia did not care what she wore, so to please Maggie she took the pink gauze scarf and wound it around her neck.
    â€œNot like that,” said Maggie. “I’ll show you…that’s a lot better. It gives you a bit of color.”
    â€œI wish I could go to bed instead,” declared Tonia with a sigh.
    â€œNonsense,” replied Maggie. “It’ll be lovely, you’ll see. I wish I was going in that lovely frock and everything. Just you make up your mind you’re going to enjoy yourself, Miss Tonia. Remember what a fine time Miss Lou had at that dance she went to.”
    Tonia had been thinking of it before Maggie spoke. She had been thinking of Lou’s appetite for adventure. If Lou had been here to go with her and sustain her, she would not have been so frightened.
    Frank Melville was the fourth member of the party. He was a distant cousin and Tonia had only met him once before. She did her best to talk to him at dinner but it was difficult going, for they seemed to have nothing in common. She felt sure that Frank already regretted his acceptance of the invitation and was wondering how often he would have to dance with her.
    The taxi was late in coming, and when the Melville party arrived the Assembly Rooms were already crowded. Tonia was dazed by the noise of talk and laughter; she clung to her mother’s hand as they pushed their way through the throng. The principal room was enormous to Tonia’s eyes. It was high and brilliantly lighted and divided in two by a thick red rope. The band was playing a fox-trot, and the floor was full of couples.
    â€œWe’re late,” said Mrs. Melville crossly. “I can’t see Frank anywhere. Wait here and I’ll try to find somebody for you to dance with.”
    Tonia was almost sick with fright. She stood in the doorway, but just at that moment the dance ended and she was swept into the vestibule by the crowd of dancers who were looking for seats outside. She found a corner and stood