Have you kept up such goings on ?' 'No, not at all!' said his sweetheart, sadly.
'We were not unlikely to revive it in a few days,' said Mr.Paddock.
'But, howsomever, there's seemingly many a slip, as the saying is.' 'Yes, I'll tell John all about that by and by!' interposed Selina; at which, perceiving that the secret which he did not like keeping was to be kept even yet, her father held his tongue with some show of testiness.
The subject of a dance having been broached, to put the thought in practice was the feeling of all.

Soon after the tables and chairs were borne from the opposite room to this by zealous hands, and two of the villagers sent home for a fiddle and tambourine, when the majority began to tread a measure well known in that secluded vale.

Selina naturally danced with the sergeant-major, not altogether to her father's satisfaction, and to the real uneasiness of her mother, both of whom would have preferred a postponement of festivities till the rashly anticipated relationship between their daughter and Clark in the past had been made fact by the church's ordinances.

They did not, however, express a positive objection, Mr.Paddock remembering, with self-reproach, that it was owing to his original strongly expressed disapproval of Selina's being a soldier's wife that the wedding had been delayed, and finally hindered--with worse consequences than were expected; and ever since the misadventure brought about by his government he had allowed events to steer their own courses.
'My tails will surely catch in your spurs, John!' murmured the daughter of the house, as she whirled around upon his arm with the rapt soul and look of a somnambulist.

'I didn't know we should dance, or I would have put on my other frock.' 'I'll take care, my love.