left hand.

And the two included the whole company, with the exception of Rosemary
Hedge and the four Grandiere girls.

The music struck up the favorite, old-fashioned "Coquette," and the dance
began.

And, oh Terpsichore, how the lady from Wild Cats' did foot it away! And
she danced well--only, perhaps, just a little too vigorously for good
taste.

The "Coquette" was followed by the "Basket," and then by "Malbrook," and
lastly by the "Fire Brigade," which finished the set.

When Mrs. Anglesea, out of breath with her great exertions, was being led
to her seat by her handsome, young partner, she passed Miss Sibby, who was
sitting in an armchair, actively fanning herself with a hand screen.

"Too bad! Too bad, indeed!" said the lady from the mines, with more good
nature than discretion; "too bad that you should have to dance, at your
age, to make up a set!"

"What's that you say?" demanded Miss Sibby, with much spirit. "Me dance to
make up a set, when all them five young gals was waiting? Me? Why, 'oman,
I dote on dancing! I think it's heavenly--perfectly heavenly! It ought to
be a lawful part of worship, sez I!"

"Oh, if that's your sort, I have no more to say! I only thought you looked
kind o' played out and done for, that's all!" said Mrs. Anglesea.

"It does sort o' try one's breath; but it is heavenly, for all that!
Perfectly heavenly! And I mean to dance the next set, too, if I can only
get a partner!"

In other parts of the room other talk was going on.

"Odalite," said Leonidas, "will you give me the next dance?"

"Certainly I will, Le! I would have given you the first one, only I wanted
you to dance with Miss Sibby!"

"Well, I obeyed you, and danced with her."

"You did not find it hard, did you?"

"I found it--funny!"

"Oh!"

"Miss Wynnette," said young Edward Grandiere, "will you be so very good as
to give me this next dance, also?"

"Not if I know it! I mean, thank you very much, but I hope you will do me
the favor of asking one of the Misses Elk to dance with you. I intend to
put on Le's cap and be a gentleman, and ask one of your sisters to dance
with me."

"Why, Miss Wynnette, how strange!"

"There's no help for it; there are not gentlemen enough in the company, so
I must be one! Why, just see, here are fourteen ladies and only seven
gentlemen. And always about the same proportion in this neighborhood,
whether it be a ball, or a dinner party, or a tea-drinking, or a little
dance