"And pray, aunt, will you dance too?"
"Perhaps I may; but I suppose, Sir, that's none of your business, whether I do or not."
"Lord! well, I should like to go! I should like to see aunt dance of all things! But the joke is, I don't believe she'll get ever a partner."
"You're the most rudest boy ever I see," cried Madame Duval, angrily: "but, I promise you, I'll tell your father what you say, for I've no notion of such vulgarness."
"Why, Lord, aunt, what are you so angry for? there's no speaking a word, but you fly into a passion: you're as bad as Biddy, or Poll, for that, for you're always a-scolding."
"I desire, Tom," cried Miss Branghton, "you'd speak for yourself, and not make so free with my name."
"There, now, she's up! There's nothing but quarrelling with the women; it's my belief they like it better than victuals and drink."
"Fie, Tom," cried Mr. Smith, "you never remember your manners before the ladies: I'm sure you never heard me speak so rude to them."
"Why, Lord, you are a beau; but that's nothing to me. So, if you've a mind, you may be so polite as to dance with aunt yourself." Then, with a loud laugh, he declared it would be good fun to see them.
"Let it be never so good, or never so bad," cried Madame Duval, "you won't see nothing of it, I promise you; so pray don't let me hear no more of such vulgar pieces of fun; for, I assure you, I don't like it. And as to my dancing with Mr. Smith, you may see wonderfuller things than that any day in the week."
"Why, as to that, Ma'am," said Mr. Smith, looking much surprised, "I always thought you intended to play at cards, and so I thought to dance with the young lady."
I gladly seized this opportunity to make my declaration, that I should not dance at all.
"Not dance at all!" repeated Miss Branghton; "yes, that's a likely matter truly, when people go to balls."
"I wish she mayn't," said the brother; "'cause then Mr. Smith will have nobody but aunt for a partner. Lord, how mad he'll be!"
"O, as to that," said Mr. Smith, "I don't at all fear of prevailing with the young lady, if once I get her to the room."