"My invitation is due to my being a friend of Oscar's." "I was not aware that you danced," said Fletcher who was rather curious on the subject.
"I don't--much." "Where did you learn--in the printing office ?" "No, in the city." "Ah! Indeed!" Fletcher thought he had wasted time enough on our hero, and turned again to Maud.
"May I have the pleasure of your hand in the second dance ?" he asked.
"I will put you down for that, if you desire it." "Thank you." It so happened that when Harry and Maud took the floor, they found Fletcher their _vis-a-vis_.

Perhaps it was this that made Harry more emulous to get through without making any blunders.

At any rate, he succeeded, and no one in the set suspected that it was his first appearance in public as a dancer.
Fletcher was puzzled.

He had hoped that Harry would make himself ridiculous, and throw the set into confusion.

But the dance passed off smoothly, and in due time Fletcher led out Maud.