as dispensed with, or
probably most of the guests were already acquainted. The fiddlers
scraped louder and louder; wilder and faster blew the horns, and on
went the dance with increasing vigor. I was getting excited--the
spirit of the thing was contagious. Though not much of a dancer, yet
I had occasionally in my life filled a place in a reel or a cotillon.
Waltzing, to be sure, was a little beyond my experience, but I had a
general idea of the figure, and could not perceive that there was any
thing very difficult about it. Most of the waltzers here whirled
around with great ease, and I could see no reason why it would not be
entirely practicable for an active man like myself, who thought
nothing of climbing high mountains or jumping across small rivers, to
do the same. Besides, these people were strangers; it would be a good
opportunity to try my skill. Doubtless, any of the young ladies would
oblige me if I asked them to dance. They seemed to oblige every body
that asked them, and showed no signs of fatigue. Indeed, they looked
fresher and more vigorous after every bout. I was particularly charmed
with the appearance of one young lady. Her complexion was florid, and
her figure absolutely magnificent. At a rough guess she must have
weighed a hundred and eighty pounds. Every time she whirled past me I
could feel the floor give way. Her partner was rather small, and
revolved around her like a planet round the sun. When she laughed,
which was nearly all the time, her beautiful mouth opened at least two
thirds of the way across her face, revealing a set of teeth to which
flakes of snow, pearls, or any thing of that kind could bear no
comparison. The extraordinary vigor of this girl, her tremendous
powers of endurance, her weight, beauty, and good-humor, rendered her
a general favorite. She was, in fact, the belle of the room. To dance
with her would be an honorable distinction. Now I am naturally a
modest man, but of late years that defect has been gradually
disappearing from my character. I resolved to dance with this girl--if
she would consent. As soon as there was a pause, therefore, I made
bold to go up to her, and, with a very polite bow, solicited her
hand--in English. She didn't understand English, but she understood
dancing, and answered me very politely in Swedish, "Ja!" I think my
dress and manner, together with my ignorance of the Swedish language,
had rather a favorable effect. She certainly looked complimented