"Gents choose partners for 'Pop goes the Weasel!'"
There had been an intermission, during which the hall had hummed like a hive of vari-coloured bees. People were thoroughly at ease now, and speech flowed freely, as the couples promenaded up and down.
"A festive occasion, truly, Mr. Bumpus!" said Miss Selina Leaf, with gentle dignity.
"Bustin'! bustin'!" replied Mr. Bumpus, with effusion. "Haven't seen such goin's on in the village, I d'no when! Does a person good to limber out the j'ints once in a while; dancin's better than bar's grease any day in the week! Haw! haw!"
Miss Selina considered this remark vulgar, and bridled gently, but made no reply.
"Surprisin' thing, too," Mr. Bumpus went on. "Bethesdy Pool—now, you'd ha' said her dancin' days were over, if anyone had ha' asked you, wouldn't you,—same as yours and mine?"
Miss Selina winced again, and looked toward a seat, but the bold Bumpus went on, unconscious.
"We'd ha' said that, surely,—you and me; yet there she is, looking most as young as the girls, I do maintain. Don't know as there's any manner of use in gettin' old before you're obleeged ter; never enj'yed a 'Lady of the Lake' more than I did that one with you, ma'am. What's that? 'Pop goes the Weasel?' Now you don't mean to say! Why, I haint danced 'Pop goes the Weasel!' since my Maria was a baby, and look at her dancin' it with her husband! Reckon I must look up my woman and dance this with her, or she'll be castin' up at you, Miss Selina; so if you'll excuse me!—" and the good man bustled off, leaving Miss Selina rigid with indignation.
"Pop goes the Weasel!" It was an old dance, and had not been seen in the village for years. Indeed, many of the lads and lasses had never seen it, and looked about them at a loss, as the lively strains struck up, notes whose shrill gayety made even the "Tempest" seem quiet by comparison. But the older men and women cast glances at each other, half-shy, half-pleased. This was renewing old times with a vengeance! Many a husband followed the example of Israel Bumpus, and led out the choice of his youth, flattering himself that she "stood it as well as any of 'em," while mature spinsters settled themselves elaborately in their seats, with an air of never having heard of the old-fashioned dance,—unless some one came to ask them for it, in which case memory became suddenly refreshed, and they stood up with right good-will.