The soldier shoved his hands into his pockets. “That’s all right,” he drawled, revealing a Southern accent and a crooner’s voice.

She caught herself staring at his lips. “Well!” she said, and turned to leave him, just as the band broke into “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You.”

“Dance with me?” he said. His “me” sounded like “may.”

She stopped, turned, took in the whole picture of him: service cap half cocked, broad shoulders, narrow belted waist, corporal’s stripes. She nodded.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” he told her, once they were out on the floor.

“You’re doing just fine,” she said, though they weren’t attempting any complicated moves at the moment.

“I reckon Sarge got tired of hearing me gripe.”

Elissa was as fluttery as a leaf; evidently, hearing the “I” sound pronounced as “ah” made her weak in the knees. Add to that the warmth of his hands—one on her waist, the other holding her hand—and the golden strains of a trombone, and she was really in trouble. “Why is that?” she said.

“Well, you were dancing with all them other boys,” he explained.

Had Muriel been next to her, Elissa would have turned to her to share a scream. As it was, she smiled, demurely, she hoped. “You don’t mean—?”

“I was watching you a mite bit,” he admitted. “Sarge is always trying to keep us boys happy. He goes overboard, at times.”

Onstage, the saxophones took over the lilting melody, and suddenly, Elissa knew she had fallen into the trap of the Babylon that Betty had warned of. It’s so magical there, why, you find yourself believing anything they tell you, and you tell them things, too, and at the time you even think you mean them! And maybe you do! I’ve heard of plenty of people who’ve met at the Babylon and gotten married! So don’t think it’s impossible for you! And these boys—they’re so lonely, most of them. So far from home. You have to be careful not to feel too sorry for them—if you know what I mean. Not right away, at least. And she’d laughed, then sighed. Of course, lots of them only want to dance, and forget about everything for a little while. You know?