excited as they gazed, until, like children when listening to
lively music, they began moving feet and hands and soon their
whole bodies in time to the swift movements of the little
dancers. At last, plucking up courage, first one, then
another, joined them, and were caught as they came and whirled
round and round in a manner quite new to them and which they
appeared to find very delightful. By and by I observed that
the little rosy-faced dumpy girl on my neighbour's knees was
taking the infection; she was staring, her blue eyes opened to
their widest in wonder and delight. Then suddenly she began
pleading, "Oh, mummy, do let me go to the little girls--oh, do
let me!" And her mother said "No," because she was so little,
and could never fly round like that, and so would fall and
hurt herself and cry. But she pleaded still, and was ready to
cry if refused, until the good anxious mother was compelled to
release her; and down she slipped, and after standing still
with her little arms and closed hands held up as if to collect
herself before plunging into the new tremendous adventure, she
rushed out towards the dancers. One of them saw her coming,
and instantly quitting the child she was waltzing with flew to
meet her, and catching her round the middle began spinning her
about as if the solid little thing weighed no more than a
feather. But it proved too much for her; very soon she came
down and broke into a loud cry, which brought her mother
instantly to her, and she was picked up and taken back to the
seat and held to the broad bosom and soothed with caresses and
tender words until the sobs began to subside. Then, even
before the tears were dry, her eyes were once more gazing at
the tireless little dancers, taking on child after child as
they came timidly forward to have a share in the fun, and once