"That is unfortunate--but it will serve to excuse you; yet I think you must essay to foot it once with Anthony. He is certain to insist on it." "But I do not know----" Urith flushed. "How can I dance when I have never practised the measures and the paces?" At that moment Anthony came up. "Come, Urith," said he; "we must open the ball. All are waiting for you." "But I cannot, Anthony." He made a movement of impatience. "Nonsense, you must!" That was in his old imperious manner, which Bessie knew so well. Bessie said aside to Urith, "Make the attempt. You cannot well go wrong." Urith stood up--nervous, trembling, turning white and red, and with the tears very near the surface. "Look here," said Anthony. "Father thinks, because I am thrust out of Hall, that everyone may kick at me--that I am of no account any more. Let us show that it is otherwise. Let them see that I am something still, and that my wife is not a nobody. Come!" He whisked her to her place at the head of the room. Urith saw that all eyes were on her, and this increased her nervousness. As she passed Fox she caught his malicious eye, and saw the twirl of laughter and cruel jest on his lip. "I cannot--and let me alone, Anthony," escaped her again. She was frightened. "Have done. I do not want you here to make a fool of yourself and me; and that you will do if you slink back to your place." "But I cannot dance, Anthony." "Folly! I will put you to-rights. With half a pinch of wit you cannot go wrong." The music struck up, the clarionette squealed, the violins sawed, and the bass grunted. In a moment Urith was caught away--felt herself swung, flying, she knew not where. She knew not what she was doing. She could neither keep step with the music, nor discover the direction in which she had to go. She saw faces--faces on every side--full of laughter, amusement, mockery. She was thrown adrift from Anthony, was groping for his hand; could not tell where he was, what she had to do; got in the way of other dancers, was knocked across the floor, knocked back again; ran between couples--then, all at once, she was aware of Anthony pushing his way to her, with an angry face, and an exclamation of, "You are no good at all; get back to your chair. I won't dance with you again and be made a laughing-stock of." He left her, where he had thrust her out of the dance, to find her way back to Bessie, and strode off to Julian, caught her by the hand, and in a moment was fully engaged.