I am no dancer." "If Mrs.Gilbert wishes to dance," said he, "I shall have great pleasure, I am sure--for, though beginning to feel myself rather an old married man, and that my dancing days are over, it would give me very great pleasure at any time to stand up with an old friend like Mrs.
Gilbert." "Mrs.Gilbert does not mean to dance, but there is a young lady disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing--Miss Smith." "Miss Smith!--oh!--I had not observed .-- You are extremely obliging--and if I were not an old married man .-- But my dancing days are over, Mrs.Weston.
You will excuse me.

Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your command--but my dancing days are over." Mrs.Weston said no more; and Emma could imagine with what surprize and mortification she must be returning to her seat.

This was Mr.Elton! the amiable, obliging, gentle Mr.Elton .-- She looked round for a moment; he had joined Mr.Knightley at a little distance, and was arranging himself for settled conversation, while smiles of high glee passed between him and his wife.
She would not look again.

Her heart was in a glow, and she feared her face might be as hot.
In another moment a happier sight caught her;--Mr.Knightley leading Harriet to the set!--Never had she been more surprized, seldom more delighted, than at that instant.

She was all pleasure and gratitude, both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could catch his eye again.
His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it, extremely good; and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky, if it had not been for the cruel state of things before, and for the very complete enjoyment and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features announced.