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           OldMickeyO’BriencameoutfromGillytoplaythefiddle,andtherewasalwayssomeoneonhandtomanthepianoaccordionorthebuttonaccordion,takingturnstospelleachotherasMickey’saccompanistswhiletheoldviolinistsatonabarrelorawoolbaleforhoursplayingwithoutarest,hispendulouslowerlipdroolingbecausehehadnopatiencewithswallowing;itinterferedwithhistempo.

           ButitwasnotthesortofdancingMeggiehadseenatMaryCarson’sbirthdayparty.Thiswasenergeticround-dancing:barndances,jigs,polkas,quadrilles,reels,mazurkas,SirRogerdeCoverleys,withnomorethanapassingtouchingofthepartner’shands,orawildswirlinginrougharms.Therewasnosenseofintimacy,nodreaminess.Everyoneseemedtoviewtheproceedingsasasimpledissipationoffrustrations;romanticintrigueswerefurtheredbetteroutside,wellawayfromthenoiseandbustle.

           Meggiesoondiscoveredshewasmuchenviedherbighandsomeescort.HewasthetargetofalmostasmanyseductiveorlanguishinglooksasFatherRalphusedtobe,andmoreblatantlyso.AsFatherRalphusedtobe.Usedtobe.Howterribletohavetothinkofhimintheveryremotestofallpasttenses.

           Truetohisword,LukeleftheraloneonlysolongasittookhimtovisittheMen’s.EnochDaviesandLiamO’Rourkewerethere,andeagertofillhisplacealongsideher.Hegavethemnoopportunitywhatsoever,andMeggieherselfseemedtoodazedtounderstandthatshewasquitewithinherrightstoacceptinvitationstodancefrommenotherthanherescort.