What if she should get no more dancing when Charley's good nature should have been expended?
She had an idea that no one would care to dance with her when older partners were to be had.

Ah, Katie, you do not yet know the extent of your riches, or half the wealth of your own attractions! And then they all heard another little speech from Mrs.Val.

'She was really quite ashamed--she really was--to see so many people; she could not wish any of her guests away, that would be impossible--though perhaps one or two might be spared,' she said in a confidential whisper to Gertrude.

Who the one or two might be it would be difficult to decide, as she had made the same whisper to every one; 'but she really was ashamed; there was almost a crowd, and she had quite intended that the house should be nearly empty.

The fact was, everybody asked had come, and as she could not, of course, have counted on that, why, she had got, you see, twice as many people as she had expected.' And then she went on, and made the same speech to the next arrival.
Katie, who wanted to begin the play at the beginning, kept her eye anxiously on Charley, who was still standing with Lactimel Neverbend on his arm.