and
gratified. I saw her turn round her head as we stood up, and laugh at
the other girls, which I interpreted to mean that she, of all in the
room, had succeeded in catching the distinguished stranger. Well, the
music started--it was a German waltz. I stood holding on to my partner
as the ivy clings to the solid oak. Never did I feel so firm a girl.
Had she been formed of lead she could not have felt more substantial.
Now, thought I, away we'll spin over the floor, a living duet,
altogether accidental, but beautiful to behold--

"Like the sweet tunes that wandering meet,
And so harmoniously they run,
The hearer dreams they are but one."

There was only one consideration that gave me any particular anxiety.
Being of a light and slender figure, I had some apprehensions that in
the giddy whirl of the waltz this powerful young lady might
accidentally throw me out of balance and create an unpleasant scene.
However, there was no time for reflection. At a given signal, away she
started with tremendous energy. I did my best to whirl her round, and
don't think it would be possible for any body to do any better under
the circumstances; but she didn't keep time--or I didn't. Round and
round the room we flew, to the inspiring strains of the music, with an
undulating motion very difficult to conceive, and still more difficult
to execute without danger to the other dancers. The warm blood rushed
to my face; my head grew dizzy: the only thing I saw was that this
style of waltzing must end in destruction to myself or somebody else.
I was fairly lifted off my feet at every turn, and found myself
absolutely hanging on to my partner to keep from falling. She never
relaxed in her vigorous movements one moment; but as the music
increased in spirit, so did she. The room was filled with waltzers. It
was impossible to be flying about in this way without hitting
somebody. I knew it from the very beginning, but what could I do? The
first man down was an old gentleman. I begged his pardon, and helped
him up again. Next I was dashed against a young lady. She and her
partner both went down. I helped them up, and begged pardon again,
which was granted with great good-humor. After that, most of the
waltzers began to get out of the way, so that we presently had a more
enlarged scope of operations. I fancy there was something uncommon in
my style of waltzing that attracted attention. It was not long before
we had the entire circle to ou