"But I have not, you see."
"But you have not! I might have known it. Where shall we go—what shall we do? Do not let us dance, let us sit down somewhere; I have a thousand things that I must say."
But this suggestion was most displeasing to Miss Brabourne.
"Oh, but, please, you must dance," said she, in disappointed tones. "I want to practise, as I shall have to dance so much, and it is such a good opportunity for you to teach me!"
"To teach you! I expect I shall be the learner," cried Osmond; but in this he was mistaken.
His divinity could not waltz at all. He instructed her for some time, a conviction darkly growing in his mind that she never would be able to master this subtle art. But what of that? Could he regret it, when she calmly said,
"I should like to dance with you a great many times, please, if you don't mind. I feel as if I needed a great deal of teaching."
CHAPTER XXXVII.
"Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile?"