Chapter Ten - There are worse things, Master Williams
"I sure hope Toby asks me to the dance," sighed Sarah, as she looked out the window of Franklin Hall 319 at the falling leaves.
"I hope he does, too," thought Felicity to herself. Sarah had been pining away over Toby Miller since that day when he had taken her flying, more out of pity than anything else. In Sarah's imagination, however, it had been the start of a stirring romance.
Unfortunately for Sarah, Toby Miller seemed not to share the same degree of interest. While he was friendly enough toward her, it was clear to everyone, except Sarah, the he was simply being polite.
Felicity had tried to figure out some way to gently let Sarah know what the situation was. Even Roger had noticed. But Sarah seemed determined that it was meant to be.
"You know," Felicity offered, "there are plenty of Entered and Apprentice class boys in school."
"I know..." Sarah said, her mind clearly on Toby.
Felicity could see that there was no use talking about it, so she gathered up her books and headed for the library. On the way there, she ran into Roger.
"Ah... Felicity," he said, with a voice that made it sound like there was something more he wanted to say. "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course you can," she answered.
"It's about Sarah," he said, looking down at the floor.
The thought of Roger and Sarah flashed across Felicity's mind. For a moment she felt a wave of jealousy sweep over her, a feeling she quickly repressed.
"I shouldn't tell you this, but Toby Miller is taking Marta to the dance." Roger looked like he had just told Felicity a deep secret, but anyone who had seen Toby and Marta together might well have guessed it; anyone, that is, except Sarah. "I know she has a crush on him, something wicked. I thought you being her roommate you could find some way of letting her know, you know, without hurting her too much."
Felicity thought back to the girl she had just left, staring out the window wishing for all the world for Toby's owl to fly up carrying an invitation to the Halloween Dance. There was no way to tell her about this without her getting hurt.
"Well, I'd better be going," Roger said, as he headed down the stairway.
Felicity walked slowly down the hall. So there would be no owl bringing an invitation to Sarah from Toby. This was sure to make Sarah very difficult to live with.
Felicity thought that she might be able to find another boy to take Sarah, but, outside of Roger, she really didn't know too many of the boys that well. Not well enough to recruit them for something like this, anyway. And she was sure that Roger would be asking her. At least, she thought he would; come to think of it, Roger's owl had not paid a visit to Franklin Hall 319, either.
Felicity sat in the library trying to remember the words to the spell that would turn a pencil into a snake. So far she had succeeded only in turning it into a bit of string and a rather sticky worm. She took a break and looked out the window. The fall leaves had turned the blue-green hills into a blaze of orange, yellow and red. High on the mountains to the west, a slight dusting of snow could be seen.
Far down the hill Felicity could see the steeple of the church poking up from around the trees. The Salem Congregational Church sat below the school, with a few white houses around it. Next to it was the cemetery, with its iron fence and its stones, which, as is the tradition in New England, all faced east.
Faced east. The idea caught in Felicity's mind for a moment. She turned and dug through her books, eventually retrieving the note that Miss Brattle had given her. She read the note over:
Upon the morning of the day when night is the same.
Go to the rest of those who have gone before.
Look to the east.
Go to the rest of those who have gone before.
Could it be that it meant the village graveyard? As Felicity thought about it, it seemed to make sense to her. It was, as the note said, the place of "rest of those who have gone before." And all the stones did face east.
The doors of the library swung open with a bang that startled Felicity. She pushed the note into her pocket and went back to her book, in the corner where she had been working.
David Good, Steven Williams and Roger came plowing into the library.
"So, little brother, have you asked Felicity to the dance yet?" Steven Williams teased.
Felicity sank back lower in her chair, pulling the book up to cover her face.
"Felicity Stockwell?" David asked. "She's cute, I guess."
"Roger here thinks she hot!" Steven said, pushing at his brother's shoulder.
Felicity could feel herself getting warm.
"Oh yes," Steven went on. "Roger here has been sweet on Felicity since the second grade, haven't you, Roger?"
Roger would have taken a swing at his older brother right then but for the fact that Steven had a good 30 pounds on Roger and could have floored him.
"It's none of your business," Roger hissed at his brother, "but I sent the owl over this afternoon."
The owl! Felicity eyes grew wide with concern. Sarah is waiting for an owl! The last thing Sarah needed was to have an owl show up only to have the invitation be for me and not her, Felicity thought to herself.
But Felicity was trapped in the corner of the library with the boys between her and the door. If she got up now, they would know that she had heard the whole conversation. She sunk down even lower in her chair.
The boys, meanwhile, carried on, evaluating the relative merits of several of the girls at school. Some of it was not very nice, Felicity thought. She was developing a particularly low impression of David Good.
After what seemed an eternity to Felicity, the boys finally left the library. Felicity gathered up her books and dashed down the hall to Franklin Hall. She went charging up the back stairs and opened the door to Room 319.
Sarah stood next to the open window. A great horned owl was the ledge outside. In her hand she held an envelope. Felicity could see the beginnings of tears welling up in Sarah's large brown eyes. Sarah held out the envelope to Felicity and said, "it's for you," just before collapsing on her bed in tears.
Felicity sat on the edge of Sarah's bed, not really knowing what she should do. She looked down at the note with Roger's careful handwriting on it. She knew what it was and so did Sarah. Sarah buried her head in her pillow and the wide assortment of stuffed animals she kept on her bed.
"Toby's not going to ask me to the dance, is he?" Sarah finally said, lifting up her head. Her face was all red and puffy; her black curly hair a rumpled mess.
"I don't think so," Felicity said.
"Oh, Felicity, what am I going to do? The dance is only a week away!" Sarah's eyes grew wide with the kind of look you see when an animal is trapped in the oncoming headlights of a car.
Felicity sat on the bed. She had no idea what Sarah should do. She looked at her note and then at Sarah, who had gone down into her pillow for another bout of tears. After a bit, Sarah stopped crying and sat up.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Felicity answered, though she did not know for what.
"Aren't you going to read your letter?" Sarah asked.
Felicity opened the letter and read it:
Felicity,
Would you like to go to the Halloween Dance with me next Saturday?
I will come over to Franklin Hall tomorrow after supper for your answer.
Roger
"You're lucky," Sarah said, sniffling. "You have such a good friend in Roger."
"Roger's your friend, too." The moment the words came out of her mouth Felicity had an idea. The only problem was she needed it to be Roger's idea and not hers. She considered casting a spell on Roger but thought the better of it. Felicity's spells had a way of going wrong sometimes and this was no matter to leave to chance.
Sarah finally pulled herself out of her bad mood and decided to take a shower before supper. Felicity ran down the stairs to talk to Ben.
The picture of Ben Franklin listened while Felicity explained Sarah's problem and her idea to solve it.
"Of course, I would be more than happy to help. Now, tomorrow evening you stay up in your room for a bit while I have a chat with Master Williams," Franklin said. "Besides, a young lady should always keep a young man waiting a while for her."
The following evening, Roger Williams came to Franklin Hall to receive his answer. He asked Miss Peters go and get Felicity as she was not in the Reception Room when he got there. Once alone with Roger, Ben Franklin went to work.
"Master Williams, you are here for Miss Stockwell, I presume?" he asked.
"Uh... yes," Roger said.
"I understand you have asked her to accompany you to the dance this Saturday," Ben went on.
"Yes..." Roger was beginning to wonder where this might be leading.
"Master Williams, take it from and old hand when it come to dealing with the fairer sex. If you want to keep them happy, you will keep their friends happy, as well." Franklin said.
"What?" Roger asked.
"Miss Goldstine is in need of an escort to the dance, also," Ben went on. "It would serve you well, young man, if you offered to have her accompany you and Miss Stockwell."
"I... I don't know what would Felicity think of that." Roger looked up at Ben.
"I can assure you, Master Williams, such as offer will put you in a most excellent position in Miss Stockwell's mind. Besides, there are worse things, Master Williams, than being able to escort two lovely young ladies to a dance. I can assure you of that."
At this, Felicity, who had been listening with Miss Peters, just out of sight, came into the room.
"Hi, Felicity, did you get my note?" Roger asked.
"Yes," Felicity said.
"And?"
"I would be happy to go to the dance with you Roger, but there is a problem."
"Sarah," said Roger. "I was thinking, if it was all right with you, of course, that Sarah could come to the dance with us."
Felicity had to fain a surprised look on her face. Ben grinned with delight at his success.
"Why, Roger! That is a wonderful idea and so thoughtful of you. Let me go get Sarah," she gushed as she dashed from the room.
"You see, what did I tell you, Master Williams?" Franklin said.
Felicity, Miss Peters and some of the other girls had spent a good part of the afternoon talking Sarah into the idea of attending the dance with Roger and Felicity. She had rejected the idea at first, but had come around when Miss Peters had noted that there were always plenty of boys at the dance who did not have enough courage to ask a girl to go with them, but would likely be available as dance partners if she went. With that, Sarah had agreed, but only if it was truly Roger's idea and that Felicity and Miss Peters had not put him up to it. Miss Peters and Felicity had assured her that they had done no such thing. It was a lie and Felicity and Miss Peters knew it, but it was a white lie and justified under the circumstances.
Felicity and Sarah now appeared in the Reception Room. Roger looked nervous.
"Uh... Sarah," he stammered, "Felicity told me you didn't have a date to the dance, is that right?"
Sarah nodded her head.
"And I, I mean Felicity and I, were wondering if you would, ah, like to come with us?"
"Why, Roger, what a nice thought; did you think of it on your own?" she quizzed.
Sarah suspected that this had not been Roger's idea alone but had decided to let the matter drop. She would be going to the dance after all.
"Mostly." Roger looked up at the picture of Franklin, who winked at him.
"Well... I would love to come with you and Felicity," Sarah said. "Thank you both."
Miss Peters came into the room and announced that it was time Roger should be returning to his dormitory. The girls said good-bye and went upstairs. As Roger was turning to leave, the picture of Ben Franklin offered yet more advice.
"Don't forget to dance with both of them," he said. "And be sure to buy two flowers, one for each."
Two flowers, thought Roger, this was going to be more expensive than he had figured. As he went out the door, Miss Peters stopped him.
"Thank you, Roger," she said.
"Two girls!" Steven said in surprise. "Roger, you dog you!" He punched his brother in the arm, which nearly caused him to fall onto his bed.
In Franklin Hall, Roger had secured a reputation as thoughtful; over in Dickinson Hall, it was more that of a playboy. The week was hard on him. But he did manage to secure two flowers. Ben Franklin offered a wealth of advice on women. Roger figured it came from living among so many of them.
Halloween was a major event at Salem Academy, which should come as no surprise. The dance was the highlight of the events. The Halloween Dance was one of the few occasions in the year when students at Salem might dress in something other that the school uniform. For the girls, in particular, this became important. The week before the dance great thought and care were put into just what one should wear.
Sarah's mother had sent her a red velvet dress with a high neck and short sleeves.
"It shows off your figure really well," Felicity told her, with a bit of envy in her voice for Sarah's figure. Felicity thought that there would be plenty of boys who would kick themselves for not asking Sarah to the dance when they saw her in that dress.
As usual, Aunt Joan came to Felicity's rescue with a pale blue and white floor-length dress with chiffon. It sort of made Felicity look as if she were floating when she walked in it, the way the chiffon fluttered out behind her. She may not have had Sarah's figure, but, as Ben said, all that chiffon left plenty to a young man's imagination.
The big day finally came. Sarah spent the good part of it worrying not only about her own appearance but Felicity's and just about all the other Entered class girls, as well.
Roger came for them at seven. He was dressed in a dress shirt, blue blazer with dark blue pants and a blue and silver tie his grandfather had sent to him for the occasion. Just as Ben had instructed, he brought two white flowers. He paid each of the girls an appropriate compliment, another of Ben's suggestions. Roger did need to enlist the help of Mrs. Dow to get the flowers pinned onto the dresses securely. Felicity's dress, with its layers of chiffon, presented a particular challenge to Roger's trembling hands.
Then Roger extended both arms and, with Felicity and Sarah each on one, escorted them to the dance.
Several of the boys, there to pick up their dates, made remarks, but the withering looks they received from the girls made it clear that they would book no such talk about Roger, who by coming to Sarah's rescue had earned the undying admiration of even the Master class girls that night.
The Fellowcraft class had done a great job of decorating the great hall and the statues, frescoes and gargoyles seemed in particularly good spirits.
Roger followed Ben's instructions and made certain to dance with both girls. As the night went on, however, he danced mostly with Felicity as Sarah seemed to be doing more dancing with Peter How, one of the Entered class boys, who had not had the courage to ask a girl to go with him.
The three of them had their picture taken and generally had a good time. At the end, Roger escorted the girls back to Franklin Hall, where Mr. and Mrs. Dow asked each couple how things went while offering them hot chocolate.
Sarah thanked Roger and Felicity for letting her come with them and went upstairs.
Felicity took Roger's hand, looked at him and said. "Thank you, Roger, I know it wasn't exactly as you had planned but it meant a lot to Sarah." Then she kissed him on the cheek; for once, it was Roger who did the blushing. "And it meant a lot to me, too, good night." She turned and went up the stairs.
"Good work, son," said Ben. "You learned something here that no book or professor could ever teach you: How to be a true gentleman."
"I sure hope Toby asks me to the dance," sighed Sarah, as she looked out the window of Franklin Hall 319 at the falling leaves.
"I hope he does, too," thought Felicity to herself. Sarah had been pining away over Toby Miller since that day when he had taken her flying, more out of pity than anything else. In Sarah's imagination, however, it had been the start of a stirring romance.
Unfortunately for Sarah, Toby Miller seemed not to share the same degree of interest. While he was friendly enough toward her, it was clear to everyone, except Sarah, the he was simply being polite.
Felicity had tried to figure out some way to gently let Sarah know what the situation was. Even Roger had noticed. But Sarah seemed determined that it was meant to be.
"You know," Felicity offered, "there are plenty of Entered and Apprentice class boys in school."
"I know..." Sarah said, her mind clearly on Toby.
Felicity could see that there was no use talking about it, so she gathered up her books and headed for the library. On the way there, she ran into Roger.
"Ah... Felicity," he said, with a voice that made it sound like there was something more he wanted to say. "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course you can," she answered.
"It's about Sarah," he said, looking down at the floor.
The thought of Roger and Sarah flashed across Felicity's mind. For a moment she felt a wave of jealousy sweep over her, a feeling she quickly repressed.
"I shouldn't tell you this, but Toby Miller is taking Marta to the dance." Roger looked like he had just told Felicity a deep secret, but anyone who had seen Toby and Marta together might well have guessed it; anyone, that is, except Sarah. "I know she has a crush on him, something wicked. I thought you being her roommate you could find some way of letting her know, you know, without hurting her too much."
Felicity thought back to the girl she had just left, staring out the window wishing for all the world for Toby's owl to fly up carrying an invitation to the Halloween Dance. There was no way to tell her about this without her getting hurt.
"Well, I'd better be going," Roger said, as he headed down the stairway.
Felicity walked slowly down the hall. So there would be no owl bringing an invitation to Sarah from Toby. This was sure to make Sarah very difficult to live with.
Felicity thought that she might be able to find another boy to take Sarah, but, outside of Roger, she really didn't know too many of the boys that well. Not well enough to recruit them for something like this, anyway. And she was sure that Roger would be asking her. At least, she thought he would; come to think of it, Roger's owl had not paid a visit to Franklin Hall 319, either.
Felicity sat in the library trying to remember the words to the spell that would turn a pencil into a snake. So far she had succeeded only in turning it into a bit of string and a rather sticky worm. She took a break and looked out the window. The fall leaves had turned the blue-green hills into a blaze of orange, yellow and red. High on the mountains to the west, a slight dusting of snow could be seen.
Far down the hill Felicity could see the steeple of the church poking up from around the trees. The Salem Congregational Church sat below the school, with a few white houses around it. Next to it was the cemetery, with its iron fence and its stones, which, as is the tradition in New England, all faced east.
Faced east. The idea caught in Felicity's mind for a moment. She turned and dug through her books, eventually retrieving the note that Miss Brattle had given her. She read the note over:
Upon the morning of the day when night is the same.
Go to the rest of those who have gone before.
Look to the east.
Go to the rest of those who have gone before.
Could it be that it meant the village graveyard? As Felicity thought about it, it seemed to make sense to her. It was, as the note said, the place of "rest of those who have gone before." And all the stones did face east.
The doors of the library swung open with a bang that startled Felicity. She pushed the note into her pocket and went back to her book, in the corner where she had been working.
David Good, Steven Williams and Roger came plowing into the library.
"So, little brother, have you asked Felicity to the dance yet?" Steven Williams teased.
Felicity sank back lower in her chair, pulling the book up to cover her face.
"Felicity Stockwell?" David asked. "She's cute, I guess."
"Roger here thinks she hot!" Steven said, pushing at his brother's shoulder.
Felicity could feel herself getting warm.
"Oh yes," Steven went on. "Roger here has been sweet on Felicity since the second grade, haven't you, Roger?"
Roger would have taken a swing at his older brother right then but for the fact that Steven had a good 30 pounds on Roger and could have floored him.
"It's none of your business," Roger hissed at his brother, "but I sent the owl over this afternoon."
The owl! Felicity eyes grew wide with concern. Sarah is waiting for an owl! The last thing Sarah needed was to have an owl show up only to have the invitation be for me and not her, Felicity thought to herself.
But Felicity was trapped in the corner of the library with the boys between her and the door. If she got up now, they would know that she had heard the whole conversation. She sunk down even lower in her chair.
The boys, meanwhile, carried on, evaluating the relative merits of several of the girls at school. Some of it was not very nice, Felicity thought. She was developing a particularly low impression of David Good.
After what seemed an eternity to Felicity, the boys finally left the library. Felicity gathered up her books and dashed down the hall to Franklin Hall. She went charging up the back stairs and opened the door to Room 319.
Sarah stood next to the open window. A great horned owl was the ledge outside. In her hand she held an envelope. Felicity could see the beginnings of tears welling up in Sarah's large brown eyes. Sarah held out the envelope to Felicity and said, "it's for you," just before collapsing on her bed in tears.
Felicity sat on the edge of Sarah's bed, not really knowing what she should do. She looked down at the note with Roger's careful handwriting on it. She knew what it was and so did Sarah. Sarah buried her head in her pillow and the wide assortment of stuffed animals she kept on her bed.
"Toby's not going to ask me to the dance, is he?" Sarah finally said, lifting up her head. Her face was all red and puffy; her black curly hair a rumpled mess.
"I don't think so," Felicity said.
"Oh, Felicity, what am I going to do? The dance is only a week away!" Sarah's eyes grew wide with the kind of look you see when an animal is trapped in the oncoming headlights of a car.
Felicity sat on the bed. She had no idea what Sarah should do. She looked at her note and then at Sarah, who had gone down into her pillow for another bout of tears. After a bit, Sarah stopped crying and sat up.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Felicity answered, though she did not know for what.
"Aren't you going to read your letter?" Sarah asked.
Felicity opened the letter and read it:
Felicity,
Would you like to go to the Halloween Dance with me next Saturday?
I will come over to Franklin Hall tomorrow after supper for your answer.
Roger
"You're lucky," Sarah said, sniffling. "You have such a good friend in Roger."
"Roger's your friend, too." The moment the words came out of her mouth Felicity had an idea. The only problem was she needed it to be Roger's idea and not hers. She considered casting a spell on Roger but thought the better of it. Felicity's spells had a way of going wrong sometimes and this was no matter to leave to chance.
Sarah finally pulled herself out of her bad mood and decided to take a shower before supper. Felicity ran down the stairs to talk to Ben.
The picture of Ben Franklin listened while Felicity explained Sarah's problem and her idea to solve it.
"Of course, I would be more than happy to help. Now, tomorrow evening you stay up in your room for a bit while I have a chat with Master Williams," Franklin said. "Besides, a young lady should always keep a young man waiting a while for her."
The following evening, Roger Williams came to Franklin Hall to receive his answer. He asked Miss Peters go and get Felicity as she was not in the Reception Room when he got there. Once alone with Roger, Ben Franklin went to work.
"Master Williams, you are here for Miss Stockwell, I presume?" he asked.
"Uh... yes," Roger said.
"I understand you have asked her to accompany you to the dance this Saturday," Ben went on.
"Yes..." Roger was beginning to wonder where this might be leading.
"Master Williams, take it from and old hand when it come to dealing with the fairer sex. If you want to keep them happy, you will keep their friends happy, as well." Franklin said.
"What?" Roger asked.
"Miss Goldstine is in need of an escort to the dance, also," Ben went on. "It would serve you well, young man, if you offered to have her accompany you and Miss Stockwell."
"I... I don't know what would Felicity think of that." Roger looked up at Ben.
"I can assure you, Master Williams, such as offer will put you in a most excellent position in Miss Stockwell's mind. Besides, there are worse things, Master Williams, than being able to escort two lovely young ladies to a dance. I can assure you of that."
At this, Felicity, who had been listening with Miss Peters, just out of sight, came into the room.
"Hi, Felicity, did you get my note?" Roger asked.
"Yes," Felicity said.
"And?"
"I would be happy to go to the dance with you Roger, but there is a problem."
"Sarah," said Roger. "I was thinking, if it was all right with you, of course, that Sarah could come to the dance with us."
Felicity had to fain a surprised look on her face. Ben grinned with delight at his success.
"Why, Roger! That is a wonderful idea and so thoughtful of you. Let me go get Sarah," she gushed as she dashed from the room.
"You see, what did I tell you, Master Williams?" Franklin said.
Felicity, Miss Peters and some of the other girls had spent a good part of the afternoon talking Sarah into the idea of attending the dance with Roger and Felicity. She had rejected the idea at first, but had come around when Miss Peters had noted that there were always plenty of boys at the dance who did not have enough courage to ask a girl to go with them, but would likely be available as dance partners if she went. With that, Sarah had agreed, but only if it was truly Roger's idea and that Felicity and Miss Peters had not put him up to it. Miss Peters and Felicity had assured her that they had done no such thing. It was a lie and Felicity and Miss Peters knew it, but it was a white lie and justified under the circumstances.
Felicity and Sarah now appeared in the Reception Room. Roger looked nervous.
"Uh... Sarah," he stammered, "Felicity told me you didn't have a date to the dance, is that right?"
Sarah nodded her head.
"And I, I mean Felicity and I, were wondering if you would, ah, like to come with us?"
"Why, Roger, what a nice thought; did you think of it on your own?" she quizzed.
Sarah suspected that this had not been Roger's idea alone but had decided to let the matter drop. She would be going to the dance after all.
"Mostly." Roger looked up at the picture of Franklin, who winked at him.
"Well... I would love to come with you and Felicity," Sarah said. "Thank you both."
Miss Peters came into the room and announced that it was time Roger should be returning to his dormitory. The girls said good-bye and went upstairs. As Roger was turning to leave, the picture of Ben Franklin offered yet more advice.
"Don't forget to dance with both of them," he said. "And be sure to buy two flowers, one for each."
Two flowers, thought Roger, this was going to be more expensive than he had figured. As he went out the door, Miss Peters stopped him.
"Thank you, Roger," she said.
"Two girls!" Steven said in surprise. "Roger, you dog you!" He punched his brother in the arm, which nearly caused him to fall onto his bed.
In Franklin Hall, Roger had secured a reputation as thoughtful; over in Dickinson Hall, it was more that of a playboy. The week was hard on him. But he did manage to secure two flowers. Ben Franklin offered a wealth of advice on women. Roger figured it came from living among so many of them.
Halloween was a major event at Salem Academy, which should come as no surprise. The dance was the highlight of the events. The Halloween Dance was one of the few occasions in the year when students at Salem might dress in something other that the school uniform. For the girls, in particular, this became important. The week before the dance great thought and care were put into just what one should wear.
Sarah's mother had sent her a red velvet dress with a high neck and short sleeves.
"It shows off your figure really well," Felicity told her, with a bit of envy in her voice for Sarah's figure. Felicity thought that there would be plenty of boys who would kick themselves for not asking Sarah to the dance when they saw her in that dress.
As usual, Aunt Joan came to Felicity's rescue with a pale blue and white floor-length dress with chiffon. It sort of made Felicity look as if she were floating when she walked in it, the way the chiffon fluttered out behind her. She may not have had Sarah's figure, but, as Ben said, all that chiffon left plenty to a young man's imagination.
The big day finally came. Sarah spent the good part of it worrying not only about her own appearance but Felicity's and just about all the other Entered class girls, as well.
Roger came for them at seven. He was dressed in a dress shirt, blue blazer with dark blue pants and a blue and silver tie his grandfather had sent to him for the occasion. Just as Ben had instructed, he brought two white flowers. He paid each of the girls an appropriate compliment, another of Ben's suggestions. Roger did need to enlist the help of Mrs. Dow to get the flowers pinned onto the dresses securely. Felicity's dress, with its layers of chiffon, presented a particular challenge to Roger's trembling hands.
Then Roger extended both arms and, with Felicity and Sarah each on one, escorted them to the dance.
Several of the boys, there to pick up their dates, made remarks, but the withering looks they received from the girls made it clear that they would book no such talk about Roger, who by coming to Sarah's rescue had earned the undying admiration of even the Master class girls that night.
The Fellowcraft class had done a great job of decorating the great hall and the statues, frescoes and gargoyles seemed in particularly good spirits.
Roger followed Ben's instructions and made certain to dance with both girls. As the night went on, however, he danced mostly with Felicity as Sarah seemed to be doing more dancing with Peter How, one of the Entered class boys, who had not had the courage to ask a girl to go with him.
The three of them had their picture taken and generally had a good time. At the end, Roger escorted the girls back to Franklin Hall, where Mr. and Mrs. Dow asked each couple how things went while offering them hot chocolate.
Sarah thanked Roger and Felicity for letting her come with them and went upstairs.
Felicity took Roger's hand, looked at him and said. "Thank you, Roger, I know it wasn't exactly as you had planned but it meant a lot to Sarah." Then she kissed him on the cheek; for once, it was Roger who did the blushing. "And it meant a lot to me, too, good night." She turned and went up the stairs.
"Good work, son," said Ben. "You learned something here that no book or professor could ever teach you: How to be a true gentleman."
