sure
he delights in, and two enthusiastic encores rewarded my triumph.
"Adolf, you must play now, for I know the Englishman is dying to have a
dance," said the gay young Countess Palfi; "and I am quite ready to be
his partner." And the next moment we were whirling along in all the mad
mazes of the _csardas_.

There is that amount of display in the dancing of the _csardas_ that not
merely invites criticism, but actually compels an outspoken admiration
whenever anything like excellence accompanies the performance. My
partner was celebrated for the grace and beauty of her dancing, and for
those innumerable interpolations which, fancy or caprice suggesting,
she could throw into the measure. To meet and respond to these by
appropriate gesture, to catch the spirit of each mood, and be ready for
each change, was the task now assigned me; and I need not say with what
passionate ardor I threw myself into it. At one moment she would advance
in proud defiance; and as I fell back in timid homage, she would turn
and fly off in the wild transport of a waltz movement Then it was mine
to pursue and overtake her; and, clasping her, whirl away, till suddenly
with a bound she would free herself, again to dramatize some passing
emotion, some mood of deep dejection, or of mad and exuberant delight It
was clear that she was bent on trying the resources of my ingenuity to
the very last limit; and the loud plaudits that greeted my successes
had evidently put her pride on the mettle. I saw this, and saw, as
I thought, that the contest had begun to pique; so, taking the next
opportunity she gave me to touch her hand, I dropped on one knee, and,
kissing her fingers, declared myself vanquished.

A deafening cheer greeted this finale, and accompanied us as I led my
partner to her seat.

It is a fortunate thing for young natures that there is no amount of
praise, no quantity of flattery, ever palls upon them. Their moral
digestion is as great as their physical; and even gluttony does not seem
to hurt them. Of all the flattering speeches made me on my performance,
none were more cordially uttered than by my beautiful partner, who
declared that if I had but the Hungarian costume,--where the clink of
the spur and the jingle of the hussar equipment blend with the time,--my
_csardas_ was perfection.

Over and over again were regrets uttered that the Empress, who had seen
the dance at Pesth done by timid and un impassioned dancers, and
who had, in co