下载辰思小说免费APP
WhenSusan’sengagementhadbeenapprovedathome，andmadepublictoanyonewhotookaninterestinitatthehotel——andbythistimethesocietyatthehotelwasdividedsoastopointtoinvisiblechalk-markssuchasMr。Hirsthaddescribed，thenewswasfelttojustifysomecelebration——anexpedition？Thathadbeendonealready。
Adancethen。Theadvantageofadancewasthatitabolishedoneofthoselongeveningswhichwereapttobecometediousandleadtoabsurdlyearlyhoursinspiteofbridge。
Twoorthreepeoplestandingundertheerectbodyofthestuffedleopardinthehallverysoonhadthematterdecided。Evelynslidapaceortwothiswayandthat，andpronouncedthatthefloorwasexcellent。SignorRodriguezinformedthemofanoldSpaniardwhofiddledatweddings——fiddledsoastomakeatortoisewaltz；
andhisdaughter，althoughendowedwitheyesasblackascoal-scuttles，hadthesamepoweroverthepiano。Iftherewereanysosickorsosurlyastoprefersedentaryoccupationsonthenightinquestiontospinningandwatchingothersspin，thedrawing-roomandbilliard-roomweretheirs。Hewetmadeithisbusinesstoconciliatetheoutsidersasmuchaspossible。
ToHirst’stheoryoftheinvisiblechalk-markshewouldpaynoattentionwhatever。Hewastreatedtoasnubortwo，but，inreward，foundobscurelonelygentlemendelightedtohavethisopportunityoftalkingtotheirkind，andtheladyofdoubtfulcharactershowedeverysymptomofconfidinghercasetohiminthenearfuture。
Indeeditwasmadequiteobvioustohimthatthetwoorthreehoursbetweendinnerandbedcontainedanamountofunhappiness，whichwasreallypitiable，somanypeoplehadnotsucceededinmakingfriends。
ItwassettledthatthedancewastobeonFriday，oneweekaftertheengagement，andatdinnerHewetdeclaredhimselfsatisfied。
“They’reallcoming！“hetoldHirst。“Pepper！“hecalled，seeingWilliamPepperslippastinthewakeofthesoupwithapamphletbeneathhisarm，“We’recountingonyoutoopentheball。“
“Youwillcertainlyputsleepoutofthequestion，“Pepperreturned。
“YouaretotakethefloorwithMissAllan，“Hewetcontinued，consultingasheetofpencillednotes。
Pepperstoppedandbeganadiscourseuponrounddances，countrydances，morrisdances，andquadrilles，allofwhichareentirelysuperiortothebastardwaltzandspuriouspolkawhichhaveoustedthemmostunjustlyincontemporarypopularity——whenthewaitersgentlypushedhimontohistableinthecorner。
Thedining-roomatthismomenthadacertainfantasticresemblancetoafarmyardscatteredwithgrainonwhichbrightpigeonskeptdescending。Almostalltheladiesworedresseswhichtheyhadnotyetdisplayed，andtheirhairroseinwavesandscrollssoastoappearlikecarvedwoodinGothicchurchesratherthanhair。Thedinnerwasshorterandlessformalthanusual，eventhewaitersseemingtobeaffectedwiththegeneralexcitement。
Tenminutesbeforetheclockstruckninethecommitteemadeatourthroughtheballroom。Thehall，whenemptiedofitsfurniture，brilliantlylit，adornedwithflowerswhosescenttingedtheair，presentedawonderfulappearanceofetherealgaiety。
“It’slikeastarlitskyonanabsolutelycloudlessnight，“
Hewetmurmured，lookingabouthim，attheairyemptyroom。
“Aheavenlyfloor，anyhow，“Evelynadded，takingarunandslidingtwoorthreefeetalong。
“Whataboutthosecurtains？“askedHirst。Thecrimsoncurtainsweredrawnacrossthelongwindows。“It’saperfectnightoutside。“
“Yes，butcurtainsinspireconfidence，“MissAllandecided。
“Whentheballisinfullswingitwillbetimetodrawthem。
Wemightevenopenthewindowsalittle……Ifwedoitnowelderlypeoplewillimaginetherearedraughts。
Herwisdomhadcometoberecognised，andheldinrespect。
Meanwhileastheystoodtalking，themusi
