'
The funny thing was the effect upon Constance, who, in the next pause,
shook off her curates, advanced to Dolores, who was recovering her
breath under the window, called her a dear thing whom she had not been
able to get to all this time, sat rather forward with an arm round her
waist for the next half-hour, and, when Sir Roger de Coverley was
getting up, proposed that they should be partners, but not till she had
seen Lord Rotherwood pair himself off with Mysie.
'I must,' said he to Lady Merrifield, 'it's so like dancing with honest
Phyl.'
'The greatest compliment you could have, Mysie,' said her mother,
looking very much pleased.
The last yellow patches of evening sunshine on the sloping roof faded;
watches were looked at, the music turned to the National Anthem,
everybody stood up, or stood still, and sung it. Then at the close,
Mr. Leadbitter stood by the piano and said--
'One word more, my young friends. Some of you may have been surprised
at this evening's amusement, but we want you to understand that there
is no harm in dancing itself, provided that the place, the manner, and
the companions are fit. I hope that you will all prove the truth of my
words, by not taking this pleasant evening as an excuse for running
into places of temptation. Now, good night, with many thanks to Lady
Merrifield for the happy day she has given us.'
A voice added, 'Three cheers for Lady Merrifield!' and the G.F.S.
showed itself by no means backward in the matter of cheering.
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