"Well, how about, tennis, then?" said Margery. "You've been playing all this summer, you know you have." "All what summer?" I asked. "That's a good one," said John; "I bet she can't answer that." "Don't quibble," said Margery. "Don't squabble," said Cecilia. "Yes, stop squibbling," said John. "I'm not quabbling," said I. John and I leaned against each other and laughed helplessly. "When you have finished," said Cecilia with a cold eye, "perhaps you will decide which of you is going to have the first lesson." "Good heavens," said John tragically, "haven't they forgotten the dancing yet?" "We may as well give way, John," I said; "we shall get no peace until we do." "I suppose not," said John dismally "Very well, then, you're her brother you shall have first go." He waved me politely to Margery. "Not at all," I said quickly "Brothers-in-law first in our family--always." "Could we both come together?" asked John. "No, you can't," said Margery. "Then we must toss for it," said John, producing a coin. "Tails," I called. "Tails it is," said John, walking across the room to Margery. And the lesson commenced. * * * * * "_Chassee_ to the right, _chassee_ to the left, two steps forward, two steps backward, twinkle each way--" "Five shillings on Twinkle, please," I interrupted. Margery stopped and looked at me. "You keep quiet, Alan," shouted Cecilia, cheerfully banging the piano. "I shall never learn," said John miserably from the middle of the room, "not in a thousand years." "Yes, you will," encouraged Margery. "Just listen. _Chassee_ to the right, _chassee_ to the left, two steps forward, two steps back, twinkle each way--" "Take away the number you first thought of," I suggested, "and the answer's the Louisiana Glide." "To finish up," said Margery, "we grasp each other firmly, prance round, two bars...." "That sounds a bit better," said John. " ... then waltz four bars," continued Margery, "and that's all. Come on, now." They came on.... "Good," said Margery as they finished up; "he's doing it splendidly, Cecilia." John beamed complacently. "I got through that last bit rather well," he said; "'pon my word, there's more in this dancing than I thought. I quite enjoyed that twinkling business." "Have another one," I suggested. "Don't mind if I do," said John. "May I have the pleasure?" with a courtly bow to Margery. They re-commenced. "That's right," said Margery; "now two forward." "I must have a natural genius for dancing," said John, conversing easily; "I seem to ... Do we twinkle next?" "Yes," said Margery. "I seem to fall into it naturally." "Look out!" shrieked Margery. I don't know exactly what happened; I rather think John got his gears mixed up in the twinkling business. At any rate, one of his feet shot up in the air, he made a wild grab at nothing and tripped heavily backwards into the hearth. The piano was drowned in general uproar.