saw nothing of the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies.  Still they moved on —­ something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench.  Here there was something less of crowd than below; and hence Miss Morland had a comprehensive view of all the company beneath her, and of all the dangers of her late passage through them.  It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first time that evening, to feel herself at a ball:  she longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room.  Mrs. Allen did all that she could do in such a case by saying very placidly, every now and then, “I wish you could dance, my dear —­ I wish you could get a partner.”  For some time her young friend felt obliged to her for these wishes; but they were repeated so often, and proved so totally ineffectual, that Catherine grew tired at last, and would thank her no more.

They were not long able, however, to enjoy the repose of the eminence they had so laboriously gained.  Everybody was shortly in motion for tea, and they must squeeze out like the rest.  Catherine began to feel something of disappointment —­ she was tired of being continually pressed against by people, the generality of whose faces possessed nothing to interest, and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow captives; and when at last arrived in the tea-room, she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to join, no acquaintance to claim, no gentleman to assist them.  They saw nothing of Mr. Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more eligible situation, were obliged to sit down at the end of a table, at which a large party were already placed, without having anything to do there, or anybody to speak to, except each other.

Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having preserved her gown from injury.  “It would have been very shocking to have it torn,” said she, “would not it?  It is such a delicate muslin.  For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room, I assure you.”

“How uncomfortable it is,” whispered Catherine, “not to have a single acquaintance here!”

“Yes, my dear,” replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity, “it is very uncomfortable indeed.”

“What shall we do?  The gentlemen and ladies at this table look as if they wondered why we came here —­ we seem forcing ourselves into their party.”

“Aye, so we do.  That is very disagreeable.  I wish we had a large acquaintance here.”

“I wish we had any —­ it would be somebody to go to.”

“Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly.  The Skinners were here last year —­ I wish they were here now.”

“Had not we better go away as it is?  Here are no tea-things for us, you see.”