I shook hands with my friend, bowed to three or four people, and was moving off. As I passed to the door I met two ladies in conversation. “Don’t you dance any more, Margaret?” said one. “Oh no,” replied the other, “I am bored, my dear Louisa--positively bored! The light is bad and the music abominable; there is no spring in the boards and less in the conversation; it is a lovely moonlight night, and there is nothing worth looking at in the room.” I never was distanced in a jest. I put on the look of a ten years’ acquaintance and commenced parley. “Surely you are not going away yet! You have not danced with me, Margaret: it is impossible you can be so cruel!” The lady behaved with wonderful intrepidity. “She would allow me the honour--but I was very late; really I had not deserved it.” And so we stood up together. “Are you not very impertinent?” “Very; but you are very handsome. Nay, you are not to be angry; it was a fair challenge and fairly received.” “And you will not even ask my pardon?” “No! it is out of my way! I never do those things; it would embarrass me beyond measure. Pray let us accomplish an introduction: not altogether a usual one, but that matters little. Vyvyan Joyeuse--rather impertinent, and very fortunate--at your service.” “Margaret Orleans--very handsome, and rather foolish--at your service!” Margaret danced like an angel. I knew she would. I could not conceive by what blindness I had passed four hours without being struck. We talked of all things that are, and a few beside. She was something of a botanist, so we began with flowers; a digression upon China roses carried us to China--the Mandarins with little brains, and the ladies with little feet--the Emperor--the Orphan of China--Voltaire--Zayre--criticism--Dr. Johnson--the Great Bear--the system of Copernicus--stars--ribbons--garters--the Order of the Bath--sea-bathing--Dawlish--- Sidmouth--Lord Sidmouth--Cicero--Rome--Italy--Alfieri--Metastasio--fountains--groves--gardens; and so, as the dancing concluded, we contrived to end as we began, with Margaret Orleans and botany. Margaret talked well on all subjects and wittily on many. I had expected to find nothing but a romping girl, somewhat amusing, and very vain. But I was out of my latitude in the first five minutes, and out of my senses in the next. She left the room very early, and I drove home, more astonished than I had been for many years.