Oh no! That was the cruel cut! It was with little Miss
Marks, whose father had just risen from the ranks. Such a figure
she was, enough to set your teeth on edge; when, behold! this
reverend minister extracts her from the wall-flowers, and goes
through the Lancers with her in first-rate style, I assure you. It
had such an effect, do you know, that what does my father do but go
and ask her next; and I heard an old lady remarking that there were
only two gentlemen in the room, Mr. Charnock and Lord Rathforlane.
So you see it was all worldliness after all, Anne."
"I suppose it was good-nature," said Anne.
"Indignation, I fancy," said Julius.
"Now, was he very wicked for it, Anne?"
"N--no, if dancing be not wrong."
"But why should it?"
"All the bad people danced in the Bible."
"Miriam--King David, eh?"
"That was part of their religious service."
"The welcome to the prodigal son?" further suggested Julius. "Does
not this prove that the exercise is not sinful in itself?"
"But you would not do it again?" repeated Anne.
"I certainly should not make a practice of it, nor go to balls any
more than I would be a sportsman or a cricketer, because I am bound
to apply my whole self to the more direct service; but this does not
show that there is evil necessarily connected with these amusements,
or that they may not safely be enjoyed by those who have time, and
who need an outlet for their spirits, or by those who wish to guard
these pleasures by presiding over them.
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