But now a dazzling noble with diamond [14] ]studs and slippery shoes in a hard-boiled front like you see in laundrys came up murmuring “Pleasure!” and then gripping Selia round the back, stood her on her feet. Once more the gramyphone struck up, and they began to jig about to its notes, as happily Selia guest when stood on her feet that this was the thing to do. She could not dance very well, but it did not matter as there was little room to do more than shuffel.
“Isnt she charming,” cried the ladys which made Mr. Withersq burn with pride. Not to be outdone he seezed the largest lady round the centre. She had a silk stocking tied round her head, which is very smart for evening wear, and they began to have a bit of a caper also, and cries of approval arose in a polite way from all assembeled.
“What a pant!” yelled Mr. Withersq, but he kept at it, knowing that to dance was the craze of the hour. Round and round they [15] ]went, and more and more couples joined in until all jammed together they trudged and shuffled to the music in the hot room.
When they at last stopt all out of breath and gasping, the lights got a bit lower and the largest lady what he had since popt on a chair got up and stood in the centre of the room but all the others sat down on the floor or the sofars and lapped up some more wine to take the dust out of their throats.
The fat lady now undid her flowing cape and dropped it down, very lighthearted, draped as she was in a quantity of muslin, rather limp perhaps, but striking, and then she took off her slippers, and already having no stockings on was now barefoot and began to dance and show off in the middel of the room, tied round the haunch with gold stuff, and waggeled and bobbed herself about to the notes of the gramafone.
[16] “Ecquisist,” howled the crowd of lovely folk, “What form divine!”
“What is she at?” growled Mr. Withersq for to tell the truth he felt a bit queer, this being in the nature of a surprise, and hoping that this was not a thing to copy, not feeling too sure of the last time he washed his feet.
“Hussssh!” hissed a shriveled dowager beside him, “it is her art.”
Now the fat lady at last ceased dancing and sank down, and a beaky-nosed sort of gentleman cried out: “Our newly-come friend Withersq does not seem to understand.”
“Dont be a soft!” cried Selia, for she had guest he had put his foot in it by his remark, remembering what her ma had taught her that no true ladys and gentlemen ever took notice or seemed amazed but took things as in a dream without saying much.