"But something'll have to be done, father!" Henry urged. "We must have farmers!..." "Aye, something'll have to be done, but I'm damned if I know what. I suppose when they've developed machinery more an' can make transit easier ... but sometimes I half think we'll have to breed people for the land ... thick people, slow-witted people, clods ... an' just let them root an' dig and grub an' ... an' breed!" He got up as he spoke, and paced about the room. "No, Henry, I've got no remedy for you! The Almighty God'll have to think of a plan, _I_ can't!" 6 Sheila Morgan did not know any of the ancient Gaelic dances, nor did any one in Ballymartin. She knew how to waltz and she could dance the polka and the schottishe. "An' that's all you need!" she said. There were two old women in the village who danced a double reel, and Paddy Kane was a great lad at jigs.... "Perhaps later on," Marsh said, "we can get some one to teach them Gaelic dances!" And so the classes began. Marsh had announced at the Language class that the first of the Dancing Classes would be held on the following Thursday ... and on Thursday every boy and girl and young man and woman in Ballymartin had crowded into the schoolroom where the class was to be held. "There are more here than come to the Language class," Marsh exclaimed in astonishment when he entered the room. "Dancing seems to be more popular than Gaelic," Henry replied. "I don't know how we shall teach them all," Marsh went on. "I can't dance ... and she can't possibly teach them all!" But there was no need to teach them to dance--they had all learned to dance "from their cradles," as some one said, and in a little while the room was full of dancing couples. Sheila Morgan had gone smilingly to John Marsh as he entered the room. "We're all ready," she said, and waited. "Oh, yes!" he replied, a little vaguely. She looked at him for a few moments, and then went on. "If you were to lead off," she suggested. "Me? But I can't dance!..." "You can't dance!" "No," he continued. "Somehow, I've never learnt to dance!" She looked disappointed. "I thought mebbe you an' me 'ud lead off," she said. "I'm sorry," he replied. "Perhaps Mr. Quinn can dance!..." Henry gave his arm to her and they walked off, to begin the slow procession round the room until all the couples were ready. "I think Mr. Marsh is the only one in the place that can't dance," Sheila said, as she placed her hand on Henry's shoulder. He put his arm round her waist and they moved off in the dance. "I suppose he is," he answered. 7 He danced with her several times. Her cheeks were glowing and the lustre of her eyes was like the sparkle of the stars. Her lips were slightly parted, and now and then her breath came quickly. As they swung round and round, she sometimes closed her eyes and then slowly opened them again. He became aware of some strange emotion that he had never known before. "I love dancin'," she murmured, half to herself.