IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 139 



a little salute he turns away, and the society 

 young lady, much crosser than she was before 

 he invented this apology for her, comes into the 

 dressing room and — bids you farewell ? Not 

 at all ! Says that she is sorry, and that she 

 knows that she can learn, and is going to try. 

 " And I suppose now that nothing will make her 

 go!" Nell says, lugubriously, as you saunter 

 homeward. 



You are still conscious of stiffness, Esmer- 

 alda ? That is not a matter for surprise or for 

 anxiety. All your life you have been working 

 for strength, for even your dancing-school 

 teacher was not one of those scientific ballet- 

 masters, who, like Carlo Blasis, would have 

 taught you that the strength of a muscle often 

 deprives it of flexibility and softness. You de- 

 sire that your muscles should be rigid or relaxed 

 at will. Go and stand in front of your mirror, 

 and let your head drop toward either shoulder, 

 causing your whole torso to become limp. Now 

 hold the head erect, and try to reproduce the 

 feeling. The effect is awkward, and not to be 

 practised in public, but the exercise enables 

 you to perceive for yourself when you are stiff 



