Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/208

 could dance. Singing may come next. Papa, you can't think how well Charles dances, such neat little chassé's and balancé's and his 'grand rond' was almost a round and a half. It was quite exhilarating to look at him."

Willis chafed up and down the room as Captain Hopkinson's peals of laughter hailed his saltatory triumphs, and took up his hat to go. But before he went, he announced that Baron Sampson was coming to make acquaintance with the Captain, and to gain some information that might be of importance to one of his schemes; and a twinge of conscience induced him to add, "He is rather a sanguine plausible man, and you had better take his statements, where any speculations are concerned, with a little abatement."

"He is not a bad fellow after all," said the Captain as the door closed on Willis.

Who? poor dear Willis? Oh no! he is too tender-hearted, and cannot get over poor Mary's loss, otherwise, as I tell the girls, he would be as pleasant as everybody else." It need hardly be added that this comment was made by Mrs. Hopkinson.