'Because, you see,' she explained eagerly, 'I know the figure and you don't--so that I can help you; while Nicholas Long, I know, is familiar with the figure, and that will make two couples who know it--which is necessary, at least.' Bellston showed his gratification by one of his angry-pleasant flushes--he had hardly dared to ask for what she proffered freely; and having requested Nicholas to take the dairyman's daughter, led Christine to her place, Long promptly stepping up second with his charge.

There were grim silent depths in Nic's character; a small deedy spark in his eye, as it caught Christine's, was all that showed his consciousness of her.

Then the fiddlers began--the celebrated Mellstock fiddlers who, given free stripping, could play from sunset to dawn without turning a hair.

The couples wheeled and swung, Nicholas taking Christine's hand in the course of business with the figure, when she waited for him to give it a little squeeze; but he did not.
Christine had the greatest difficulty in steering her partner through the maze, on account of his self-will, and when at last they reached the bottom of the long line, she was breathless with her hard labour..
Resting here, she watched Nic and his lady; and, though she had decidedly cooled off in these later months, began to admire him anew.

Nobody knew these dances like him, after all, or could do anything of this sort so well.