In the Still of the Night

ago that allows you to take a core sample from a tree just like with a core sample of a rock strata. I’ve never had a chance to try it out.”
    He rummaged in his satchel and held out the tool for her inspection.
    “But why would you want to do that?”
    He looked surprised. “Just out of curiosity,“ he said as if it were the obvious answer to a very foolish question.
    “Have fun,“ Lily said, knowing she was wasting sarcasm on him.

Chapter 20

    The fête went on all day long. It lost a bit of the verve after lunch when most everyone who could afford to buy food or had brought it along had a full stomach and needed to rest awhile. Some of the invited guests at Grace and Favor came inside to take naps and others came indoors briefly to partake of a light luncheon of cold cuts and bread that Mrs. Prinney had put out for them.
    But by three P.M. the fête was under full steam again. There were foot races, three-legged races, even baby races, which were hysterically funny because the babies didn’t get the point and went crawling off every which way.
    There were jump rope contests for the older girls, marble shooting contests for the boys, wrestling matches and even a short marching demonstration by the veterans in the afternoon, which Julian West watched sadly.
    As evening came on, banjos and fiddles were brought out and the music and dancing started. This was commenced by the lone Scotsman from the town playing as lively a tune as possible on his bagpipes. This was apparently the traditional opening to the evening activities.
    When the sun started setting, kerosene lanterns were set up on tables where children couldn’t get near them and a space was cleared on the lawn for dancing.
    As Lily moved through the crowd, she could smell beer and whiskey from time to time. So much for Prohibition, she thought.
    To Lily’s surprise, Phoebe Twinkle was one of the featured singers. She had a strong soprano voice and a vast repertoire of country songs. Most of the dances were country dances. Lines and circles of people exchanging places in elaborate patterns. As many children as adults participated. Skirts spinning, feet stomping, encouraging yelps were the order of the evening. A small proportion of those whose religious beliefs or energy levels prohibited dancing nevertheless watched with smiles, and some clapped to the music.
    After a while, babies were nursed and put to sleep on quilts in the area closest to the kitchen where they wouldn’t be stepped on. Mr. and Mrs. Prinney set up chairs nearby and served as baby-watchers.
    Young couples furtively crept away into the woods. Some were dragged back by vigilant parents or grandparents.
    Lily was fascinated and deeply touched by how much entertainment small town people could have without money. Parties in her “old world“ had involved hired dance bands, haughty-looking professional waiters, expensive fancy food which most people merely picked at, men in tuxes and women in now unimaginably costly dresses and jewels, and a rather unhealthy sense of social competition instead of physical feats.
    “Are you enjoying yourself?“ Robert asked as he found her still watching the dancers much later. “Enormously. Shall we try dancing?“
    “We’d just mess up the pattern.“
    “I’ll bet they’d forgive us and if they don’t, we’ll stop. We used to be pretty good dancers, both of us.“
    “But not this kind of dancing,“ Robert objected.
    “Well, I don’t mind making a fool of myself to learn,“ Lily said. “We live here now, we better make ourselves a part of it.“
    “Then we better find good, patient partners. I’ll ask Phoebe to help me. And you can ask—oh, my goodness!”
    Robert goggled as Cecil Hoornart, in fine fettle, pranced by them, perfectly in step.
    “Well, if he can do it, so can I!“ Robert exclaimed.
    Lily located Jack Summer, who had discarded his horrible checked suit jacket, and asked him to help her learn the steps. A half hour later, she was sweating, out of breath, and very happy with her newfound dance skills. She’d galloped up and down the center row with half the men in town, locked elbows with them and been swung violently around in dizzying circles and only tripped up on the patterns three times. The music and the clapping were heady incentives.
    She went inside and splashed water on her face in the kitchen sink to cool off. Most of the other dancers were also taking a rest and the music changed. Ballads and