One in
particular was so. She held a corner of the shawl high above her
with her right hand, and her right foot was advanced so as to show
her whole frame extended excepting the neck; the head being bent
downward and sideways.
Suddenly Jean ceased; Pauline threw the shawl over both her
shoulders, made a profound curtsey, and retired; but in five minutes
she was back again in her ordinary clothes. Zachariah was in sore
confusion. He had never seen anything of the kind before.
He had been brought up in a school which would have considered such
an exhibition as the work of the devil. He was distressed too to
find that the old Adam was still so strong within him that he
detected a secret pleasure in what he had seen. He would have liked
to have got up and denounced Jean and Pauline, but somehow he could
not. His great great grandfather would have done it, beyond a doubt,
but Zachariah sat still.
"Did you ever perform in public?" he asked.
"No. I was taught when I was very young; but I have never danced
except to please father and his friends."
This was a relief, and some kind of an excuse. He felt not quite
such a reprobate; but again he reflected that when he was looking at
her he did not know that she was not in a theatre every night in the
week.
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