It's quite a charity, they tell me. I expect I shall have to
dance myself."
I looked at the note, and stood mute, thinking what I should
do. Ever since Mr. Thorold had mentioned it, up on the hill,
the question had been recurring to me. I had never been to a
party in my life, since my childish days at Melbourne. Aunt
Gary's parties at Magnolia had been of a different kind from
this; not assemblies of young people. At Mme. Ricard's I had
taken dancing lessons, at my mother's order; and in her
drawing room I had danced quadrilles and waltzes with my
schoolfellows; but Mme. Ricard was very particular, and nobody
else was ever admitted. I hardly knew what it was to which I
was now invited. To dance with the cadets! I knew only three
of them; however, I supposed that I might dance with those
three. I had an impression that amusements of this kind were
rather found in the houses of the gay than the sober-minded;
but this was peculiar, to help the cadets dance, Mrs. Sandford
said. I thought Mr. Thorold wished I would come.
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