Ruby's Reward — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XIX. a WALTZ AND A SOUVENIR, Titn contra-dance, which had been added to the list for Mr Ruggles’s benefit, was at length announced, and Ruby led hor friend, with a pretty air of triumph, to the head of the rooni. Robert Gordon followed with Mrs Rugvles; then came Walter with Mise Annie Partridge, and so on down the long line. Ruby never forgot that danee ; she could never forgot how, the moment the band. struck up the lively music, her companion beeame instantly bred with enthusinem, threw his whole heart into the business before him, and surely did “step it out with the best of them,” while the fine work which he put into his dancing was simply marvellous. Mrs Ruggles also scomed to wake up to the music, aud the dainty steps which she had been taught to take in hey youth —very different from our modern dancing-—were a matter of wonder and amusement to the heholders, and yet there was a certain grace about it that was almost fascinating. Ruby actually secined to tread on air. Sho went “down the centre” and © back on the outside” with the lightness and grace of a fairy, her whole heart conired in the pleasures of the moment; and when at last she and her partner finished the figure, and stood flushed and panting at tho foot of the line, she bent towards him, saying, with a radiant face : “Mr Ruggles, I never enjoyed a dance more,” comicbooks.com