‘Thank you,’ said Gertrude; ‘but
I never dance now.’ She had inwardly resolved
that nothing should ever induce her again to enter
Mrs. Val’s house.
‘Oh, but you must come,’ said Clementina.
’It will be so charming. We only mean to
dance one kind of dance—that new thing
they have just brought over from Spain—the
Contrabandista. It is a polka step, only very
quick, and you take every other turn by yourself;
so you have to take your partner up and let him go
as quick as possible. You don’t know how
charming it is, and it will be all the rage.
We are to have the music out in the street, just as
they have in Spain.’
‘It would be much too difficult for me,’
said Gertrude.
‘It is difficult,’ said the enthusiastic
Clem; ’but Victoire gives us lessons in it everyday
from twelve to two—doesn’t he, Ugolina?’
‘I’m afraid I shouldn’t have time
to go to school,’ said Gertrude.
’Oh, it doesn’t take much time—six
or seven or eight lessons will do it pretty well.
I have almost learnt it already, and Ugolina is coming
on very fast. Lactimel is not quite so perfect.
She has learnt the step, but she cannot bring herself
to let Victoire go quick enough. Do come, and
bring Mr. Tudor with you.’
’As he has not to attend from ten till four,
he could come and take lessons too,’ said Lactimel,
who, now that she was no longer a hanger-on of Gertrude’s,
could afford to have her little revenge.
‘That would be delightful,’ said Clem.
’Mr. Charles Tudor does come in sometimes at
twelve o’clock, and I think he does it almost
as well as Victoire.’
Gertrude, however, would go neither to the rehearsals
nor to the finished performance; and as Mrs. Val’s
men had by this time been induced to leave the beershop,
the whole party went away, leaving Gertrude to her
meditations.
TICKLISH STOCK
Alaric returned from his office worn and almost as
wretched as he had been on the day before. He
had spent a miserable day. In the morning Sir
Gregory had asked him whether he had finally made up
his mind to address the electors of Strathbogy.
’No, not finally,’ said Alaric, ‘but
I think I shall do so.’
‘Then I must tell you, Tudor,’ said Sir
Gregory, speaking more in sorrow than in anger, ’that
you will not have my countenance. I cannot but
think also that you are behaving with ingratitude.’
Alaric prepared to make some petulant answer, but Sir
Gregory, in the meantime, left the room.
Every one was falling away from him. He felt
inclined to rush after Sir Gregory, and promise to
be guided in this matter solely by him, but his pride
prevented him: though he was no longer sanguine
and confident as he had been a week ago, still his
ambition was high. ’Those who play brag
must brag it out, or they will lose their money.’
This had been said by Undy; but it was not the less
true on that account. Alaric felt that he was
playing brag, and that his only game was to brag it
out.
