1 1 8 Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope 



between the pair, but I am sure nothing of more 

 importance than a few idle compliments, for the 

 maid was very pretty, and she danced like a sylph, 

 and the man — I knew him well — could turn a 

 phrase. When they returned to the dancing hall, a 

 waltz had begun, and Jack now appearing to claim 

 it, little Jill was easily constrained to give it to 

 the other. My friend told me afterwards that he 

 marked a ring upon her forefinger, a gold ring with 

 a diamond set in the middle of it, and he was rather 

 surprised when she refused to leave the heated 

 room after the waltz was over. She blushed too 

 when he begged her to go to supper with him, and 

 said, without assigning any reason, that that was 

 quite impossible. The Englishman, unconscious of 

 giving offence, sat down and entertained his part- 

 ner to the best of his ability. Suddenly, a young 

 farmer strode across the room, and, standing in 

 front of the maid, said in an angry voice: "Give 

 me my ring." 



" But — " protested the maid. 



" Give me my ring." 



As she was pulling it from her finger, the English- 

 man understood. He had been annexing some- 

 body's best girl ! So he rose up, and grasping the 

 youth's arm led him to the door and into the road, 

 where apologies and explanations were offered and 

 accepted. 



These dances always began with a Grand March, 

 a very solemn and silent function, a parade of Jacks 

 and Jills walking arm in arm to the sound of 

 appropriate music. During the quadrilles the steps 

 were called by a Master of Ceremonies, the language 



