ClarawasprovingamuchbetterhostthanOlaf，who，oncethesupperwasover，seemedtofeelnointerestinanythingbutthelanterns。Hehadbroughtalocomotiveheadlightfromtowntolighttherevels，andhekeptskulkingaboutasifhefearedthemerelightfromitmightsethisnewbarnonfire。
Hiswife，onthecontrary，wascordialtoeveryone，wasanimatedandevengay。Thedeepsalmoncolourinhercheeksburnedvividly，andhereyeswerefulloflife。ShegavethepianoovertothefatSwedishheiress，pulledherfatherawayfromthecornerwherehesatgossipingwithhiscronies，andmadehimdanceaBohemiandancewithher。InhisyouthJoehadbeenafamousdancer，andhisdaughtergothimsolimberedupthateveryonesataroundandapplaudedthem。Theoldladieswereparticularlydelighted，andmadethemgothroughthedanceagain。Fromtheircornerwheretheywatchedandcommented，theoldwomenkepttimewiththeirfeetandhands，andwheneverthefiddlesstruckupanewairoldMrs。Svendsen’swhitecapwouldbegintobob。
ClarawaswaltzingwithlittleEricwhenNilscameuptothem，brushedhisbrotheraside，andswungheroutamongthedancers。
“Rememberhowweusedtowaltzonrollersattheoldskatingrinkintown？Isupposepeopledon’tdothatanymore。Weusedtokeepitupforhours。Youknow，weneverdidmoonaroundasotherboysandgirlsdid。Itwasdeadseriouswithusfromthebeginning。
Whenweweremostinlovewitheachother，weusedtofight。Youwerealwayspinchingpeople；yourfingerswerelikelittlenippers。