‘Now, after these confessions and compliments, may I suggest a waltz?’
‘No one is waltzing now.’
‘When the quadrille, then, is finished?’
‘Then I am engaged.’
‘After your engagement?’
‘That is indeed making a business of pleasure. I have just refused a similar request of your fellow-steward. We damsels shall soon be obliged to carry a book to enrol our engagements as well as our bets, if this system of reversionary dancing be any longer encouraged.’
‘But you must dance with me!’ said the Duke, imploringly.
‘Oh! you will stumble upon me in the course of the evening, and I shall probably be more fortunate.
I suppose you feel nervous about to-morrow?’
‘Not at all.’