When they finally arrived at the masquerade ball, they affixed their
uniform matching masks and entered with linked arms. He immediately drew
Wendy onto the floor, adeptly twirling her into the dance.
"Your dancing will put me to shame," Wendy complimented.
"Hardly. Your beauty more than compensates," he replied.
Wendy sighed, "Why is it always my beauty that you praise?"
James paused, "What else would you have me say?"
Wendy just shrugged, "Something about me."
"I always assumed what I saw reflected what you are," James replied, looking terribly bewildered by her sudden displeasure.
"Some of the most cruel girls I know are the loveliest," she contradicted.
"You can not expect me to believe you are one of they," James queried.
"That wasn't my point. I feel like I don't know you, and that you don't know me," Wendy explained, tired of the masquerade and pleasantries.
James smiled, "But that's just it, Wendy. I want to get to know you better."
Wendy finally returned his grin in earnest, "I suppose I was asking a lot for knowing me no more than a short time. You'll have to forgive me, I was thinking..."
"There is nothing to forgive," James replied, then paused, abruptly leading her outside. "Why don't we get to know each other now?"
Wendy drew back slightly, "Now? Where?"
"On the terrace," James explained, still leading her toward the door.
Wendy relented and submitted to his guidance.
"Your dancing will put me to shame," Wendy complimented.
"Hardly. Your beauty more than compensates," he replied.
Wendy sighed, "Why is it always my beauty that you praise?"
James paused, "What else would you have me say?"
Wendy just shrugged, "Something about me."
"I always assumed what I saw reflected what you are," James replied, looking terribly bewildered by her sudden displeasure.
"Some of the most cruel girls I know are the loveliest," she contradicted.
"You can not expect me to believe you are one of they," James queried.
"That wasn't my point. I feel like I don't know you, and that you don't know me," Wendy explained, tired of the masquerade and pleasantries.
James smiled, "But that's just it, Wendy. I want to get to know you better."
Wendy finally returned his grin in earnest, "I suppose I was asking a lot for knowing me no more than a short time. You'll have to forgive me, I was thinking..."
"There is nothing to forgive," James replied, then paused, abruptly leading her outside. "Why don't we get to know each other now?"
Wendy drew back slightly, "Now? Where?"
"On the terrace," James explained, still leading her toward the door.
Wendy relented and submitted to his guidance.