arm in the side-rooms are not to be kept quiet longer,
even by hunches of bread and cake; there is a general howl and wail,
that rises yet higher than the scraping of fiddles, and mothers rush
from their partners to knock small heads together, and cuff little
nursemaids, and force the wailers down into unoccupied corners of beds,
under tables and behind boxes. In half an hour every variety of childish
snore is heard on all sides, and it has become perilous to raise or set
down a foot in any of the side-rooms lest a small head or hand should be
crushed.

Now too the busy feet have broken the solid coating of the floor, and a
cloud of fine dust arises, that makes a yellow halo round the candles,
and sets asthmatic people coughing, and grows denser, till to recognise
any one on the opposite side of the room becomes impossible, and a
partner's face is seen through a yellow mist.

At twelve o'clock the bride is led to the marriage-chamber and
undressed; the lights are blown out, and the bridegroom is brought to
the door by the best man, who gives him the key; then the door is shut
and locked, and the revels rise higher than ever. There is no thought of
sleep till morning, and no unoccupied spot where sleep may be found.

It was at this stage of the proceedings on the night of Tant Sannie's
wedding that Lyndall sat near the doorway in one of the side-rooms, to
watch the dancers as they appeared and disappeared in the yellow cloud
of dust. Gregory sat moodily in a corner of the large dancing-room. His
little betrothed touched his arm.

"I wish you would go and ask Lyndall to dance with you," she said; "she
must be so tired; she has sat still the whole evening."

"I have asked her three times," replied her lover shortly. "I'm not
going to be her dog, and creep to her feet, just to give her the
pleasure of kicking me--not for you, Em, nor for anybody else."

"Oh, I didn't know you had asked her, Greg," said his little betrothed,
humbly; and she went away to pour out coffee.

Nevertheless, some time after Gregory found he had shifted so far round
the room as to be close to the door where Lyndall sat. After standing
for some time he inquired whether he might not bring her a cup of
coffee.

She declined; but still he stood on (why should he not stand there as
well as anywhere else?), and then he stepped into the bedroom.

"May I not bring you a stove, Miss Lyndall, to put your feet on?"

"Thank you."

He sought for one