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lines like hyphens； as she jigged up and down opposite him；
repeating in her own person not only his proper movements； but also
the minor flourishes which the richness of the tranter's imagination
led him to introduce from time to timean imitation which had about
it something of slavish obedience； not unmixed with fear。
The ear…rings of the ladies now flung themselves wildly about；
turning violent summersaults； banging this way and that； and then
swinging quietly against the ears sustaining them。 Mrs。 Crumplera
heavy woman； who； for some reason which nobody ever thought worth
inquiry； danced in a clean apronmoved so smoothly through the
figure that her feet were never seen； conveying to imaginative minds
the idea that she rolled on castors。
Minute after minute glided by； and the party reached the period when
ladies' back…hair begins to look forgotten and dissipated； when a
perceptible dampness makes itself apparent upon the faces even of
delicate girlsa ghastly dew having for some time rained from the
features of their masculine partners； when skirts begin to be torn
out of their gathers； when elderly people； who have stood up to
please their juniors； begin to feel sundry small tremblings in the
region of the knees； and to wish the interminable dance was at
Jericho； when （at country parties of the thorough sort）waistcoats
begin to be unbuttoned； and when the fiddlers' chairs have been
wriggled； by the frantic bowing of their occupiers； to a distance of
about two feet from where they originally stood。
Fancy was dancing with Mr。 Shiner。 Dick knew that Fancy； by the law
of good manners； was bound to dance as pleasantly with one partner
as with another； yet he could not help suggesting to himself that
she need not have put QUITE so much spirit into her steps； nor
smiled QUITE so frequently whilst in the farmer's hands。
〃I'm afraid you didn't cast off；〃 said Dick mildly to Mr。 Shiner；
before the latter man's watch…chain had done vibrating from a recent
whirl。
Fancy made a motion of accepting the correction； but her partner
took no notice； and proceeded with the next movement； with an
affectionate bend towards her。
〃That Shiner's too fond of her；〃 the young man said to himself as he
watched them。 They came to the top again； Fancy smiling warmly
towards her partner； and went to their places。
〃Mr。 Shiner； you didn't cast off；〃 said Dick； for want of something
else to demolish him with； casting off himself； and being put out at
the farmer's irregularity。
〃Perhaps I sha'n't cast off for any man；〃 said Mr。 Shiner。
〃I think you ought to； sir。〃
Dick's partner； a young lady of the name of Lizzycalled Lizz for
shorttried to mollify。
〃I can't say that I myself have much feeling for casting off；〃 she
said。
〃Nor I；〃 said Mrs。 Penny； following up the argument； 〃especially if
a friend and neighbour is set against it。 Not but that 'tis a
terrible tasty thing in good hands and well done； yes； indeed； so
say I。〃
〃All I meant was；〃 said Dick； rather sorry that he had spoken
correctingly to a guest； 〃that 'tis in the dance； and a man has
hardly any right to hack and mangle what was ordained by the regular
dance…maker； who； I daresay； got his living by making 'em； and
thought of nothing else all his life。〃
〃I don't like casting off： then very well； I cast off for no dance…
maker that ever lived。〃
Dick now appeared to be doing mental arithmetic； the act being
really an effort to present to himself； in an abstract form； how far
an argument with a formidable rival ought to be carried； when that
rival was his mother's guest。 The dead…lock was put an end to by
the stamping arrival up the middle of the tranter； who； despising
minutiae on principle； started a theme of his own。
〃I assure you； neighbours；〃 he said； 〃the heat of my frame no tongue
can tell！〃 He looked around and endeavoured to give； by a forcible
gaze of self…sympathy； some faint idea of the truth。
Mrs。 Dewy formed one of the next couple。
〃Yes；〃 she said； in an auxiliary tone； 〃Reuben always was such a hot
man。〃
Mrs。 Penny implied the species of sympathy that such a class of
affliction required； by trying to smile and to look grieved at the
same time。
〃If he only walk round the garden of a Sunday morning； his shirt…
collar is as limp as no starch at all；〃 continued Mrs。 Dewy； her
countenance lapsing parenthetically into a housewifely expression of
concern at the reminiscence。
〃Come； come； you women…folk； 'tis hands acrosscome； come！〃 said
the tranter； and the conversation ceased for the present。
CHAPTER VIII： THEY DANCE MORE WILDLY
Dick had at length secured Fancy for that most delightful of
country…dances； opening with six…hands…round。
〃Before we begin；〃 said the tranter； 〃my proposal is； that 'twould
be a right and proper plan for every mortal man in the dance to pull
off his jacket； considering the heat。〃
〃Such low notions as you have； Reuben！ Nothing but strip will go
down with you when you are a…dancing。 Such a hot man as he is！〃
〃Well； now； look here； my sonnies；〃 he argued to his wife； whom he
often addressed in the plural masculine for economy of epithet
merely； 〃I don't see that。 You dance and get hot as fire； therefore
you lighten your clothes。 Isn't that nature and reason for gentle
and simple？ If I strip by myself and not necessary； 'tis rather
pot…housey I own； but if we stout chaps strip one and all； why； 'tis
the native manners of the country； which no man can gainsay？ Hey
what did you say； my sonnies？〃
〃Strip we will！〃 said the three other heavy men who were in the
dance； and their coats were accordingly taken off and hung in the
passage； whence the four sufferers from heat soon reappeared；
marching in close column； with flapping shirt…sleeves； and having；
as common to them all； a general glance of being now a match for any
man or dancer in England or Ireland。 Dick； fearing to lose ground
in Fancy's good opinion； retained his coat like the rest of the
thinner men； and Mr。 Shiner did the same from superior knowledge。
And now a further phase of revelry had disclosed itself。 It was the
time of night when a guest may write his name in the dust upon the
tables and chairs； and a bluish mist pervades the atmosphere；
becoming a distinct halo round the candles； when people's nostrils；
wrinkles； and crevices in general； seem to be getting gradually
plastered up； when the very fiddlers as well as the dancers get red
in the face； the dancers having advanced further still towards
incandescence； and entered the cadaverous phase； the fiddlers no
longer sit down； but kick back their chairs and saw madly at the
strings； with legs firmly spread and eyes closed； regardless of the
visible world。 Again and again did Dick share his Love's hand with
another man； and wheel round； then； more delightfully； promenade in
a circl