Shewasengagedforthesecondcountrydance,butpromisedmethethird,andassuredme,withthemostagreeablefreedom,thatshewasveryfondofwaltzing.\"Itisthecustomhere,\"shesaid,\"forthepreviouspartnerstowaltztogether;butmypartnerisanindifferentwaltzer,andwillfeeldelightedifIsavehimthetrouble.Yourpartnerisnotallowedtowaltz,and,indeed,isequallyincapable:butIobservedduringthecountrydancethatyouwaltzwell;so,ifyouwillwaltzwithme,Ibegyouwouldproposeittomypartner,andIwillproposeittoyours.\"Weagreed,anditwasarrangedthatourpartnersshouldmutuallyentertaineachother.
Wesetoff,and,atfirst,delightedourselveswiththeusualgracefulmotionsofthearms.Withwhatgrace,withwhatease,shemoved!Whenthewaltzcommenced,andthedancerswhirledaroundeachotherinthegiddymaze,therewassomeconfusion,owingtotheincapacityofsomeofthedancers.Wejudiciouslyremainedstill,allowingtheotherstowearythemselves;and,whentheawkwarddancershadwithdrawn,wejoinedin,andkeptitupfamouslytogetherwithoneothercouple,——Andranandhispartner.NeverdidIdancemorelightly.
Ifeltmyselfmorethanmortal,holdingthisloveliestofcreaturesinmyarms,flying,withherasrapidlyasthewind,tillIlostsightofeveryotherobject;andOWilhelm,Ivowedatthatmoment,thatamaidenwhomIloved,orforwhomIfelttheslightestattachment,never,nevershouldwaltzwithanyoneelsebutwithme,ifIwenttoperditionforit!——youwillunderstandthis.
Wetookafewturnsintheroomtorecoverourbreath.Charlottesatdown,andfeltrefreshedbypartakingofsomeorangeswhichIhadhadsecured,——theonlyonesthathadbeenleft;butateveryslicewhich,frompoliteness,sheofferedtoherneighbours,Ifeltasthoughadaggerwentthroughmyheart.
Wewerethesecondcoupleinthethirdcountrydance.AsweweregoingdownandHeavenknowswithwhatecstasyIgazedatherarmsandeyes,beamingwiththesweetestfeelingofpureandgenuineenjoyment,wepassedaladywhomIhadnoticedforhercharmingexpressionofcountenance;althoughshewasnolongeryoung.ShelookedatCharlottewithasmile,then,holdingupherfingerinathreateningattitude,repeatedtwiceinaverysignificanttoneofvoicethenameof\"Albert.\"