He would be a soldier -- of that I could have no doubt. He was
the kind of boy England wants and can still get, thank God! say
pessimists what they will.

While I was awaiting my Dolly dance, I came upon a small,
disconsolate boy.

"I'm looking for an empty partner," he said.

I captured a passing girl, very small, and they danced away
together. The boy I could see was very energetic, the girl was
very small and fat. As they passed me I heard her say, "I --
can't -- go -- so -- fast!"

"Very sorry," said the small boy, "but I must keep up with the
music."

Dolly found me. "I think I had better dance gentleman," she said;
"I think I am as tall as you." With a tremendous effort she drew
her slim figure to its full height, and, gazing up into my face
she had the audacity to say, "Yes, I do just look down upon you;
anyhow, men aren't always taller than girls. My cousin says so,
and she goes to dances - heaps -- and she is six foot."

We started off, I felt at once, on a perilous course. "You see,"
she said, "I had better -- steer -- because" (bump we went into
somebody), "because -- I dance once a week -- always" (crash),
"sometimes oftener -- so I get -- plenty of practice" (bang) "in
steering, and that helps. I love dancing -- don't you? Oh,