He could not dance with her again until the very last. That was a "circle" in which you balanced and turned your partner and went to the next couple, but some way you returned to your own. There were various pretty figures in it. Once or twice she was a little confused, but he seemed always on the watch for her.
The music stopped and the fiddlers were locking their cases. The dancers went out to the supper-room again.
"I'd rather dance than eat. I believe I could dance without music. Would you like to try?" he asked.
"Oh, no!" with a frightened look that made him laugh.
Mr. Leverett came, and Mr. Saltonstall was all polite deference. He wished he could be invited to call, but how was it to be managed?
Then Cynthia went upstairs to put on her cloak. The bride kissed her, and said she was glad to have had her, and when they gave their house-warming she must be sure to come.
"I've had such a lovely time. Thank you ever so much."
"I'm the obliged one," was the reply.
If she had not been in the carriage she must have danced all the way home. There was music in her head and a "spirit in her feet." She hardly heard what Cousin Chilian was saying, only after they entered the house and she slipped out of her wrap, with his good-night, he said, "You are a very pretty girl, Cynthia." Of course, he should have had more sense than to foster a girl's vanity.
The next morning she asked him about the assemblies.