There must have been more dancing throughout the country in those days than there is now:  and it seems to have sprung up more spontaneously, as if it were a natural production, with less fastidiousness as to the quality of music, lights, and floor.  Many country towns had a monthly ball throughout the winter, in some of which the same apartment served for dancing and tea-room.  Dinner parties more frequently ended with an extempore dance on the carpet, to the music of a harpsichord in the house, or a fiddle from the village.  This was always supposed to be for the entertainment of the young people, but many, who had little pretension to youth, were very ready to join in it.  There can be no doubt that Jane herself enjoyed dancing, for she attributes this taste to her favourite heroines; in most of her works, a ball or a private dance is mentioned, and made of importance.

Many things connected with the ball-rooms of those days have now passed into oblivion.  The barbarous law which confined the lady to one partner throughout the evening must indeed have been abolished before Jane went to balls.  It must be observed, however, that this custom was in one respect advantageous to the gentleman, inasmuch as it rendered his duties more practicable.  He was bound to call upon his partner the next morning, and it must have been convenient to have only one lady for whom he was obliged

   To gallop all the country over,
   The last night’s partner to behold,
   And humbly hope she caught no cold.

But the stately minuet still reigned supreme; and every regular ball commenced with it.  It was a slow and solemn movement, expressive of grace and dignity, rather than of merriment.  It abounded in formal bows and courtesies, with measured paces, forwards, backwards and sideways, and many complicated gyrations.  It was executed by one lady and gentleman, amidst the admiration, or the criticism, of surrounding spectators.  In its earlier and most palmy days, as when Sir Charles and Lady Grandison delighted the company by dancing it at their own wedding, the gentleman wore a dress sword, and the lady was armed with a fan of nearly equal dimensions.  Addison observes that ’women are armed with fans, as men with swords, and sometimes do more execution with them.’  The graceful carriage of each weapon was considered a test of high breeding.  The clownish man was in danger of being tripped up by his sword getting between his legs:  the fan held clumsily looked more of a burden than an ornament; while in the hands of an adept it could be made to speak a language of its own. {35} It was not everyone who felt qualified to make this public exhibition, and I have been told that those ladies who intended to dance minuets, used to distinguish themselves from others by wearing a particular kind of lappet on their head-dress.  I have heard also of another curious proof of the respect in which this dance was held.  Gloves immaculately clean were considered requisite for its due performance, while gloves a little soiled were thought good enough for a country dance; and accordingly some prudent ladies provided themselves with two pairs for their several purposes.  The minuet expired with the last century:  but long after it had ceased to be danced publicly it was taught to boys and girls, in order to give them a graceful carriage.