His knowledge of music was not extensive, but on the other hand it was enough to enable him to analyze this jazz.

Neither music nor ragtime, it seemed utterly barbarian in character.

It appealed only to primitive, physical, sensual instincts.

It could not be danced to sanely and gracefully.
When he opened his eyes again, to see once more the disorder of dancers in spirit and action, he seemed to have his analysis absolutely verified.
These dances were short, the encores very brief, and the intermissions long.

Perhaps the dancers needed to get their breath and rearrange their apparel.
After this number, Lane left Blair talking to friends, and made his way across the hall to where he espied Lorna.