Isabel, after a vain effort to persuade Mary to join her, took a side by herself, quite capable of dancing enough for two at least. Then the violin sent forth an air that kindled the blood even in that old man's veins. The dancers put themselves in motion--right and left--ladies' chain. It went off admirably. The old man was rather stiff and awkward at first, but the young folks soon broke him in and he turned, now the little girls then Mrs. Chester, and then the tall lady with the cameo; true she was on the side, but then the old gentleman was not particular, and his ladies' chain became rather an intricate affair at last, he added so many superfluous links to it. But nothing could daunt him after he once got into the spirit of it, and he went through the whole like an old hero; the only difficulty was, he never knew when to stop. Just in the height of the dance, when the needle-merchant was all in a glow, balancing to every lady, and getting up a sort of extemporaneous affair, made from old remembrances of "The Cheat" and "The Virginia Reel," the whole company stopped short, and he exclaimed-- "Bless my soul!" And drawing forth a red silk handkerchief, he made a motion, as if his forehead wanted dusting. "Bless my soul!" he repeated, "Laura, my dear, have the goodness to look, my love." Mrs. Peters turned, and spite of her cameo defences, blushed guiltily. "Dear me, my nephew, Frederick Farnham, who would have expected this?" she exclaimed, instantly assuming her dignity, and gliding from among the dancers. "I couldn't help it, Aunt Peters, I know it is very impertinent for me to follow you up here, but how could you expect me to stay down yonder, with the floor trembling over head, and that violin--? I beg your pardon, sir," continued young Farnham, addressing Chester, "but the fact is, everything was so gloomy down stairs, and so brilliant; up here besides you left the door open as if you'd made up your mind to tempt a fellow into committing an impertinence." "Don't think of it, there's no intrusion--my wife has found a birth-day, and is making the most of it," answered Chester, advancing toward the door with his hand frankly extended. The youth stepped forward, and the light fell upon his face. His eyes lighted up splendidly as they fell on Chester. "What, my fine fellow, is it you?" he said, with a dash of young Americanism that was only frank, not assuming, while Chester exclaimed-- "I'm glad to see you--heartily glad to see you--come in, come in." "Allow me," said Mrs. Peters, with a stately wave of the hand, "Mr. Chester, allow me to present Mr. Frederick Farnham, my nephew, and only son of the Mayor of New York--Mrs. Chester, Mr. Farnham." "Never mind all about that, aunt," said the boy, blushing at his pompous introduction, "this gentleman and I have met before--he knows my father."