It happened that some warm mead accidentally got into Mr. Spinks’s head about this time.

“Dancing,” he said, “is a most strengthening, livening, and courting movement, ’specially with a little beverage added!  And dancing is good.  But why disturb what is ordained, Richard and Reuben, and the company zhinerally?  Why, I ask, as far as that do go?”

“Then nothing till after twelve,” said William.

Though Reuben and his wife ruled on social points, religious questions were mostly disposed of by the old man, whose firmness on this head quite counterbalanced a certain weakness in his handling of domestic matters.  The hopes of the younger members of the household were therefore relegated to a distance of one hour and three-quarters—­a result that took visible shape in them by a remote and listless look about the eyes—­the singing of songs being permitted in the interim.

At five minutes to twelve the soft tuning was again heard in the back quarters; and when at length the clock had whizzed forth the last stroke, Dick appeared ready primed, and the instruments were boldly handled; old William very readily taking the bass-viol from its accustomed nail, and touching the strings as irreligiously as could be desired.

The country-dance called the ‘Triumph, or Follow my Lover,’ was the figure with which they opened.  The tranter took for his partner Mrs. Penny, and Mrs. Dewy was chosen by Mr. Penny, who made so much of his limited height by a judicious carriage of the head, straightening of the back, and important flashes of his spectacle-glasses, that he seemed almost as tall as the tranter.  Mr. Shiner, age about thirty-five, farmer and church-warden, a character principally composed of a crimson stare, vigorous breath, and a watch-chain, with a mouth hanging on a dark smile but never smiling, had come quite willingly to the party, and showed a wondrous obliviousness of all his antics on the previous night.  But the comely, slender, prettily-dressed prize Fancy Day fell to Dick’s lot, in spite of some private machinations of the farmer, for the reason that Mr. Shiner, as a richer man, had shown too much assurance in asking the favour, whilst Dick had been duly courteous.

We gain a good view of our heroine as she advances to her place in the ladies’ line.  She belonged to the taller division of middle height.  Flexibility was her first characteristic, by which she appeared to enjoy the most easeful rest when she was in gliding motion.  Her dark eyes—­arched by brows of so keen, slender, and soft a curve, that they resembled nothing so much as two slurs in music—­showed primarily a bright sparkle each.  This was softened by a frequent thoughtfulness, yet not so frequent as to do away, for more than a few minutes at a time, with a certain coquettishness; which in its turn was never so decided as to banish honesty.  Her lips imitated her brows in their clearly-cut outline and softness of bend; and her nose was well shaped—­which