as the scene was it
had nothing in it to interest her. Her thoughts were engaged in
something more real and true. They were wandering just then into a
distant ocean in search of the object dearest in her affections,
wondering how it fared with him. Then the picture of Hanz and Angeline,
in their humble little home, revealed itself to her, and her mind filled
with strange fancies as to the part she might have to perform in saving
them from the trouble she saw foreshadowed in her father's conversation
with Topman and Gusher. She little knew what sorrow had been brought
into Hanz's home since she left Nyack; nor did it occur to her that old
Father Hanz, as she playfully called him, might even then be within the
sound of her voice.

The company had all assembled, the musicians were beginning to tune
their instruments, and the time for dancing was drawing near. Mrs.
Chapman flattered herself that Bowling Green would wake up in the
morning to find that she had carried its outworks. But notwithstanding
all the pushing she had done, and all the pushing her friends had done
for her, she had not succeeded in catching the sort of people she had
thrown her net for. There was Topman and Mrs. Topman, moving here and
there in all the elegance of full dress. There were a number of others,
who were always ready to accept an invitation where there was dancing to
be done, or an opportunity afforded to show themselves in their best
clothes. They were second and third-rate people, after all--people who
get a cheap position in society through their proficiency in dancing,
which they accept as the highest object a man or woman has to live for.

Poor Chapman moved about here and there like a raven among birds of
brilliant plumage; and never did man look meeker or more submissive.
There had been a curious change in his worldly affairs since the time
when he preached humility and economy at Dogtown, and was ready to
quarrel with any man who did not agree with him that show and
extravagance were carrying the country to the devil.

"My wife, my dear wife, gives this ball," he would say, referring
timidly to the subject. "My dear wife enjoys these things. Mrs. Chapman
is very fond of young society, you see. I hope you are enjoying
yourselves. There will be dancing soon--I never dance--and supper at
twelve."

There was no man more elaborately got up that night than Gusher. Every
hair on his head was trained into exact position, and his tailorin