Percy claimed his partner's hand.

Miss Charlotte hesitated, and looked at her mother.
"Surely you waltz ?" said Percy.
"I have learned to waltz," she answered, modestly; "but this is such a large room, and there are so many people!" "Once round," Percy pleaded; "only once round!" Miss Bowmore looked again at her mother.

Her foot was keeping time with the music, under her dress; her heart was beating with a delicious excitement; kind-hearted Mrs.Bowmore smiled and said: "Once round, my dear, as Mr.Linwood suggests." In another moment Percy's arm took possession of her waist, and they were away on the wings of the waltz! Could words describe, could thought realize, the exquisite enjoyment of the dance?
Enjoyment?
It was more--it was an epoch in Charlotte's life--it was the first time she had waltzed with a man.

What a difference between the fervent clasp of Percy's arm and the cold, formal contact of the mistress who had taught her! How brightly his eyes looked down into hers; admiring her with such a tender restraint, that there could surely be no harm in looking up at him now and then in return.
Round and round they glided, absorbed in the music and in themselves.
Occasionally her bosom just touched him, at those critical moments when she was most in need of support.

At other intervals, she almost let her head sink on his shoulder in trying to hide from him the smile which acknowledged his admiration too boldly.