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with a tithe of the awe he felt for a post…captainit was simply a
pleasant assembly of good…natured folks； glad to welcome home a
battered sailor； and of pretty girls； for whom he had a sailor's
admiration； but without forwardness or presumptionall in happy
grateful simplicity。
〃I suppose you cannot dance？〃 said Flora to him。
〃I！〃 was Harry's interjection； and while she was looking round for a
partner to whom to present him； he had turned to the young daughter
of his new acquaintance； and had her on his arm； unconscious that
George had been making his way to her。
Flora was somewhat uneasy； but the mother was looking on smiling； and
expressed her delight in the young midshipman； and Mrs。 Rivers； while
listening gladly to his praises； watched heedfully； and was reassured
to see that dancing was as natural to him as everything else； his
steps were light as a feather； his movement all freedom and joy；
without being boisterous； and his boyish chivalry as pretty a sight
as any one could wish to see。
If the rest of the world enjoyed their dances a quarter as much as
did 〃Mr。 May；〃 they were enviable people； and he contributed not a
little to their pleasure； if merely by the sight of his blithe
freshness and spirited simplicity； as well as the general sympathy
with his sister's joy； and the interest in his adventures。 He would
have been a general favourite； if he had been far less personally
engaging； as it was； every young lady was in raptures at dancing with
him； and he did his best to dance with them all； and to try to stir
up Norman； who； after Meta had been obliged to leave him； and go to
act her share of the part of hostess； had disposed of himself against
a wall； where he might live out the night。
〃Ha！ June！ what makes you stand sentry there？ Come and dance； and
have some of the fun！ Some of these girls are the nicest partners in
the world。 There's that Lady Alice； something with the dangling
things in her hair； sitting down nowfamous at a polka。 Come along；
I'll introduce you。 It will do you good。〃
〃I know nothing of dancing；〃 said Norman； beginning to apprehend that
he might be dragged off； as often he had been to cricket or football；
and by much the same means。
〃Comes by nature； when you hear the music。 Ha！ what a delicious
polka！ Come along； or I must be off！ She will be waiting for me；
and she is the second prettiest girl here！ Come！〃
〃I have been trying to make something of him； Harry；〃 said the
ubiquitous Flora； 〃but I don't know whether it is mauvaise honte； or
headache。〃
〃I see！ Poor old June！〃 cried Harry。 〃I'll get you an ice at once；
old fellow！ Nothing like one for setting a man going！〃
Before Norman could protest； Harry had flown off。
〃Flora；〃 asked Norman； 〃isare the Walkinghames here？〃
〃Yes。 Don't you see Sir Henry。 That fine…looking man with the black
moustache。 I want you to know him。 He is a great admirer of your
prize poem and of Dr。 Spencer。〃
Harry returning； administered his ice； and then darted off to excuse
himself to his partner； by explanations about his brother； whom
everybody must have heard of； as he was the cleverest fellow living；
and had written the best prize poem ever heard at Oxford。 He firmly
believed Norman a much greater lion than himself。
Norman was forced to leave his friendly corner to dispose of the
glass of his ice； and thus encountered Miss Rivers； of whom Sir Henry
was asking questions about a beautiful collection of cameos； which
Flora had laid out as a company trap。
〃Here is Norman May；〃 said Meta； 〃he knows them better than I do。 Do
you remember which of these is the head of Diana； Norman？〃
Having set the two gentlemen to discuss them； she glided away on
fresh hospitable duties； while Norman repeated the comments that he
had so enjoyed hearing from poor Mr。 Rivers； hoping he was； at least；
sparing Meta some pain； and wondering that Flora should have risked
hurting her feelings by exposing these treasures to the general gaze。
If Norman were wearied by Sir Henry； it was his own fault； for the
baronet was a very agreeable person； who thought a first…class man
worth cultivation； so that the last half…hour might have compensated
for all the rest； if conversation were always the test。
〃Why； Meta；〃 cried Harry； coming up to her； 〃you have not once
danced！ We are a sort of brother and sister； to be sure； but that is
no hindrance； is it？〃
〃No；〃 said Meta； smiling； 〃thank you； Harry； but you must find some
one more worthy。 I do not dance this season； at least； not in
public。 When we get home； who knows what we may do？〃
〃You don't dance！ Poor little Meta！ And you don't go out！ What a
pity！〃
〃I had rather not work quite so hard；〃 said Meta。 〃Think what good
fortune I had by staying at home last night！〃
〃I declare！〃 exclaimed Harry； bewitched by the beaming congratulation
of her look； 〃I can't imagine why Norman had said you had turned into
a fine lady！ I can't see a bit of it！〃
〃Norman said I had turned into a fine lady！〃 repeated Meta。 〃Why？〃
〃Never mind！ I don't think so； you are just like papa's humming…
bird； as you always were； not a bit more of a fine lady than any girl
here； and I am sure papa would say so。 Only old June had got a bad
headache； and is in one of his old dumps； such as I hoped he had left
off。 But he can't help it； poor fellow； and he will come out of it；
by and byso never mind。 Hallo！ why people are going away already。
There's that girl without any one to hand her downstairs。〃
Away ran Harry； and presently the brothers and sisters gathered round
the fireGeorge declaring that he was glad that nuisance was so well
over； and Harry exclaiming； 〃Well done； Flora！ It was capital fun！
I never saw a lot of prettier or more good…natured people in my life。
If I am at home for the Stoneborough ball； I wonder whether my father
will let me go to it。〃
This result of Harry's successful debut in high life struck his
sister and Norman as so absurd that both laughed。
〃What's the matter now？〃 asked Harry。
〃Your comparing Flora's party to a Stoneborough ball；〃 said Norman。
〃It is all the same； isn't it？〃 said Harry。 〃I'm sure you are
equally disgusted at both！〃
〃Much you know about it；〃 said Flora； patting him gaily。 〃I'm not
going to put conceit in that lion head of yours； but you were as good
as an Indian prince to my party。 Do you know to whom you have been
talking so coolly？〃
〃Of course。 You see； Norman； it is just as I told you。 All
civilised people are just alike when they get into a drawing…room。〃
〃Harry takes large views of the Genus homo；〃 Norman exerted himself
to say。 〃Being used to the black and brown species； he takes little
heed of the lesser varieties。〃
〃It is enough for him that he does not furnish the entertainment in
another way；〃 said Flora。 〃But； good…night。 Meta； you look tired。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
Let none； henceforward； shrink from daring dreams；
For earnest hearts shall find their dreams fulfilled。FOUQUE。
〃I have it！〃 began Harry； as he came down to breakfast。 〃I don't
know how I came to forget it。 The will was to be sent home to Mr。
M