A thoughtful hostess will never introduce a bad dancer to a good one, because she has no right to punish one friend in order to oblige another.

It is not customary for married persons to dance together in society.

[Footnote A:  See “Etiquette for Ladies,” and “Etiquette for Gentlemen,” Sec.  IX.]

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IV.—­THE QUADRILLE.

The Quadrille is the most universal, as it is certainly the most sociable, of all fashionable dances.  It admits of pleasant conversation, frequent interchange of partners, and is adapted to every age.  The young or old, the ponderous paterfamilias or his sylph-like daughter, may with equal propriety take part in its easy and elegant figures.  Even an occasional blunder is of less consequence in this dance than in many others; for each personage is in some degree free as to his own movements, not being compelled by the continual embrace of his partner to dance either better or worse than he may find convenient.

People now generally walk through a quadrille.  Nothing more than a perfect knowledge of the figure, a graceful demeanour, and a correct ear for the time of the music are requisite to enable any one to take a creditable part in this dance.  Steps are quite gone out of fashion:  even the chasse has been given up for some time past.

A quadrille must always consist of five parts.  If a variation be made in the fourth figure, by the substitution of Pastorale for Trenise, the latter must then be omitted; or vice-versa.  As soon as a gentleman has engaged his partner for the quadrille, he should endeavour to secure as his vis-a-vis some friend or acquaintance; and should then lead his partner to the top of the quadrille, provided that post of honour be still vacant.  He will place the lady always at his right hand.

Quadrille music is divided into eight bars for each part of the figure; two steps should be taken in every bar; every movement thus invariably consists of eight or of four steps.

It is well not to learn too many new figures; the memory is liable to become confused amongst them; besides which, it is doubtful whether your partner, or your vis-a-vis, is as learned in the matter as yourself.  Masters are extremely fond of inventing and teaching new figures; but you will do well to confine your attention to a few simple and universally received sets, which you will find quite sufficient for your purpose.  We begin with the oldest and most common, the

FIRST SET OF QUADRILLES.

First Figure.—­Le Pantalon.

The couples at the top and bottom of the quadrille cross to each other’s places in eight steps, occupying four bars of the time; then re-cross immediately to their own places, which completes the movement of eight bars.  This is called the Chaine Anglaise.  The gentleman always keeps to the right of vis-a-vis lady in crossing, thus placing her inside.