r said
this morning that he considered it out of danger, but that it
needed its mother sorely, to cheer and pet it."

In a very short time the tables were laid. The count, his brother,
and Charlie sat at an upper table, and the hall was filled with the
various officers and retainers. The count's arrival was expected,
for a horseman had been sent forward on their arrival at the inn
the evening before. The dinner had therefore been cooked in
readiness, and Charlie was astonished at the profusion with which
it was served. Fish, joints, great pies, and game of many kinds
were placed on the table in unlimited quantities; the drink being a
species of beer, although excellent wine was served at the high
table. He could now understand how often the Polish nobles
impoverished themselves by their unbounded hospitality and love of
display.

"I suppose, for tomorrow, you will like to remain quiet," the count
said, "but after that we will try to amuse you. There is game of
all sorts to be shot, or if you have had enough sport, lately,
there will be a sledge and horses at your disposal, whenever you
choose to ride or drive, and in a few days we will give an
entertainment, in honour at once of our return, your visit, and the
child's restoration to health. Then you will have an opportunity of
seeing our national dances."

Charlie had had enough shooting, but he greatly enjoyed the drives
in the sledges, behind the spirited horses. The entertainment came
off a fortnight after his arrival at the chateau. The guests, for
the most part, arrived early in the afternoon, many having driven
in from great distances. The preparations had been on an immense
scale, and the scene at night was a brilliant one.

Never had Charlie seen anything like the magnificence of the
dresses, not of the ladies only, but also of the gentlemen; the
Poles having the true oriental love for rich costumes, a taste that
their national dress permitted them to gratify to the utmost. Next
to the splendour of the dresses, Charlie was surprised at the grace
and spirit of the dancing, which was far more vivacious than that
of western nations. The Poles were long considered to be the best
dancers in the world. It was their great national amusement; and
all danced, from noble to peasant, entering into it with spirit and
enthusiasm, and uniting the perfection of rhythmical motion with
the grace and ease peculiar to them, and to their kinsmen the
Hungarians.

The dancin