"Mr.VanBerg,Iamweary,andIimagineyouaretoo.IthinkI
　　willsaygood-night."
　　"Iscarcelywonderthatyouarefatigued.Youhavehadatryingday."
　　"Ithasbeenahorridday,"shesaid,emphatically.
　　"Itmighthaveendedmuchworse,nevertheless."
　　"Possibly,"sheadmittedwithashrug.
　　"Youhavemorereasontocongratulateyourselfthanyouimagine,MissMayhew.Eventhatdisagreeablesouvenirofourmorningperil,yourlameness,hasdisappeared,andyoumighthavebeenmaimedforlife."
　　"Mylameness,likemycourage,waschieflyafraudtobeginwith,andsoondisappeared;butIhaveothersouvenirsofthatoccasionthatIcannotgetridofsoeasily."
　　"IfIamoneofthem,youareright,MissMayhew;Ishallholdyoutoouragreementthismorning.Youputmeonmygoodbehavior——haveInotbehavedwell?"
　　"Yes,betterthanIhave.Iwasnotreferringtoyoupersonally,buttocertainmemories."
　　"Weagreedtoletby-gonesbeby-gones."
　　"Butothersarenotpartiestothisagreement,andeveryreferencetotheaffairisodioustome."
　　"Ishallmakenofurtherreferencetoit,andyoumustbefairenoughnottopunishmefortheactsofothers."
　　"YoualsodespisemeinyourheartofmycoursetowardsMissBurtonthisevening."
　　"IfIdespisedyouwouldIhavesoughtyoursocietythisevening?"
　　"Idonotknow.Idon'tunderstandyou,ifyouwillpermitmybluntness."
　　"Possiblyyoudon'tunderstandyourself,MissMayhew."
　　"IunderstandthatIhavehadamiserableday,andIhopeImayneverseeanotherlikeit.Good-night,sir."
　　ChapterXIII.Nature'sBrokenPromise.
　　VanBerghadbeenlefttohimselfbutalittletimebeforeStantonandMr.Burleighcameoutuponthepiazza,andthethreegentlemensatdownforaquietchat.
　　"Well,"remarkedminehost,withasighofreliefsuchasapilotmightheaveaftertakinghisshiproundaperilouspoint;"well,thankstoMissBurton'sgoodsense,theaffairhasendedwithoutanytrouble.Inahouselikethis,'Satanisfindingmischiefstill'
　　whenevermybackisturned,andsometimeshethreatenstogetuparowrightundermynose,asinthisinstance.Iwasa'blarstedfool,'asourEnglishfriendshaveit,nottoknowthatMrs.
　　Chint'sdrama,althoughbeginningincomedy,mightendintragedyofmylosingsomegoodpayingboarders.StillfurtherdidIdemonstratethelengthofmyearsbyevenimaginingitpossiblethatMissBurtonwouldtakefivehundred,orfivehundredthousanddollarsinanysuchcircumstances.Butthewholethingwasdoneinajiffy,andMrs.Chintswaspossessedtohaveher'tableauvivant.'Livelypicturewasn'tit?Still,ifMissMayhew,whenappealedtobyMrs.Chints,hadconfirmedmydoubts,Iwouldhavetriedtostopthenonsenseatanycost."
　　"DidMissMayhewadvisethestep?"askedStanton.
　　"Oh,no!Shewasnon-committal.Sheactedasifitwerenoneofheraffair,saveasitmightaffordheralittleamusement.Buttheserowsarenolightmatterstouspoorpublicans,whomustpleaseeveryoneandkeepthewholemenagerieinorder.Mr.Chintswasswearingupanddownhisroomthathehadbeenmadeafoolof.
　　Mrs.Chintswasforleavingto-morrowmorning,declaringthatshewouldnotenduresuchairsfromaschool-teacher.Theyarerichandhaveanumberoffriendswhoarecomingsoon,andsomymindwasfullof'strangeoaths'also,atmyprospectiveloss,whenthisblessedlittlewomanappears,tapsattheirdoor,entersliketheangelintothelion'sden,andshutstheirmouthsbysomemagicallherown.Andnowthey'regoingtostay;Mr.ChintswillgivethefivehundredtotheChildren'sAidSociety,allissereneandI'mhappy,somuchsothatI'llsmokeanotherofyourgoodcigars,Mr.Stanton."
　　"Certainly,half-a-dozenifyouwish.Howdoyouimagineshequietedtheunrulybeasts?"
　　"Oh,Isupposeshegotaroundthemthroughthechild——somewhatasshewonovermywifethisafternoonbymeansofourcrossbaby.
　　It'steething,youknow——andyethowshouldyouyoungchapsknowanythingaboutbabies!Nomatter,yourtimewillcome.Thispromenadingthepiazzawithlovelycreatureswhohavebeenhalftheafternoonattheirtoiletsisallverynice;butwaittillyouhaveweatheredinnumerablesquallsinthedeadofnight——thenyou'lllearnthatteething-timeinahouseholdislikegoingaroundCapeHorn.Well,toreturnfromyourfuturetomypresent.Whensogood-naturedamanasIamgetsintoasympatheticmoodwitholdKingHerod,youcanimaginewhatastatethemother'snervesmustbeinwhohastostanditnightandday.ButasMissBurtonhadbeencommendedtomycare,IfeltthatIwasindutyboundtointroducehertomywifeandshowhersomeattention.SoIsaidtomywife,thisafternoon,'I'mgoingtobringayoungladyintoseeyou.'
　　'DoyouthinkI'minaconditiontoentertaincompany?'sheasked,withafaintsuggestionofhardciderinhertone.'Well,mydear,'Iexpostulated,'itwasjustthesameyesterday,andwillbealittlemoresoto-morrow,andIfeelthatIshallberemissifIdelayanylonger.''Oh,verywell,'shesaid,asifitwereatooththatmustcomeoutsoonerorlater,'sincethemattermustbeattendedto,letushaveitoveratonce.'Butblessyou,itwasn'tovertillsupper-time.AsIbroughttheyoungladyin,thebabywakedoutofafive-minutes'napthathadcostaboutanhour'srocking,andIthoughttheroofwouldcomeoff.Mywifelookedcrossandworried——well,itwasprose,gentlemen,prose——notthepoetryoflife;andIsaidtomyself,'IsupposeIhaveaboutmadeitcertainthatthisyoungwomanwillliveanddieanoldmaidbygivingherthisglimpsebehindthescenes.Ithoughttheladiescouldgetonbetterwithoutmethanwithme,soIbowedmyselfout,gladtoescapethedin;andIsupposedMissBurtonwouldsayafewpleasantthingsinthedirectionofMrs.Burleigh,whichshe,poorwoman,mightnotbeabletohear,andthenshewouldbowherselfout,alsogladtoescape.AnhourandahalflaterIwentbacktoseeifIcouldnotcoaxmywifeawayforadrive,andwhatdoyousupposeIsaw?"
　　"Thebabyinconvulsions,"saidStanton.
　　"Giveitup,"addedVanBerg.
　　"Sweettransformationscene;deephush;mywifeasleepinherrocking-chair,thebabyasleepinthearmsofMissBurton,whoheldupawarningfingeratmetobequiet.Butthemischiefwasdone;mywifestartedupandwasmortifiedbeyondmeasurethatshehadtreatedherguestsorudely.Thegoodfairy,however,wassogenuinelydelightedthatshehadquietedthebabyandgiventhetiredmotheralittlerest,thatwehadtocometotheconclusionthatshefoundpleasureinwaysthatareatrifleuncommon.Bysomemiracleorothershekeptthebabyasleep,andthenmywifeandItriedtoentertainheralittle,butweweretheonesthatwereentertained.Beforeweknewit,thesupper-bellrang,andthenI'mblessedifthelittlechapdidn'twakeupandgrinatusall.TothinkthenthatIshouldrewardherbylettingMr.Chintsslapherfacewithafive-hundred-dollarcheck!Iguesswe'llallknowbetternexttime."
　　"Didshetellyouanythingfurtheraboutherhistoryorherconnections?"askedStanton.
　　Mr.Burleighstrokedhisbeardandlookedratherblankforamoment.
　　"NowIthinkofit,"heejaculated,"Ibehangedifshesaidawordaboutherself.AndnowIthinkfurtherofit,shesomehoworothergotMrs.Burleighandmyselfa-talking,andseemedsointerestedinusandwhatwesaid,thatIbehangedagainifwedidn'ttellherallweknowaboutourselves."
　　"Sheimpresseseveryoneasbeingremarkablyfrank,andyetI
　　thinkitwillbefoundthatsheispeculiarlyreticentinregardtoherself,"remarkedVanBergmusingly."Well,it'snotoftenI
　　takepeopleontrust,butIhavegiventhisladymyentirerespectandconfidence."
　　"Iassureyouthatthereisnotrustinthisbusiness,"saidMr.
　　Burleigh,emphatically."Ican'taffordtoindulgeinsentiment,gentlemen;besides,itcouldn'tbeanymorebecominginmethaninTomChints.Iwouldn'ttakeanunprotected,unknownfemaleintomyhouseifshecamewithapairofwings.ButMissBurtonbringslettersthatestablishhercharacterasaladyastrulyasthatofanyotherwomaninthehouse.IoughttohavepreventedthisChintsbusiness,butthenfivehundredisanicelittleplum,andbeforeIpulledmyslowwitstogetherthethingwasdone."
　　"Bytheway,Mr.Burleigh,"remarkedStanton,"IhearthatthepartieswhoarenowatmyfriendVanBerg'stablearesoontoleaveforthesea-shore.Canyougivemethreeseatsthereaftertheirdeparture?"
　　"Certainly;putyoudownrightalongsideofMissBurton."
　　"PerhapsVanBergfeelsthathehasthefirstclaimtosogoodaposition?"
　　"No,Stanton,Ishallnotplaceastrawinyourway."
　　"Youneverwereamanofstraw,Van.IfIwereseekingmorethantoenjoythesocietyofthisyounglady,whoseemstobeembodiedsunshine,Iwouldbesorrytohaveyouplaceyourselfintheway."
　　"Sunshinebroughttoafocuskindlesevengreenwood,"remarkedVanBerg,withasignificantnodathisfriend.
　　"Well,"saidMr.Burleigh,rising,"ifIhadnotfoundmymate,I'dbeaburrthatthatlittlewomanwouldn'tgetridofveryeasily.
　　Good-night,gentlemen.I'llgiveeitheroneofyoumyblessing."
　　"Good-night,Van,"saidStanton,also."I'mnotgoingtostayandlistentoyourabsurdpredictions.NeithershallIpermityoutoenjoyallbyyourselfthedelicatewineofthatwoman'swit.Whengoodthingsarepassinground,Iproposetohavemyshare.Mypresencecan'thurtyourprospects."
　　"Andifitdid,Ik,doyouthinkmesuchachurlastotrytocrowdyouaway?"
　　"That'smagnanimous.Isupposeyouandmycousincanmanagetokeepthepeacebetweenyou."
　　"IthinkthechangewillbefarmoredisagreeabletoMissMayhewthantome."
　　"Youareverypolitetosayso.Good-night."
　　"Well,"musedVanBerg,whenlefttohimself;"I'vemadeprogressto-dayafterafashion.Wehavebeenquitethoroughlyintroduced——infact'throwntogether,'asfateandallherfriendswillhaveit.
　　Imighthavebeenweeksingainingasmuchinsightintohercharacterascircumstanceshavegivenmeinafewbriefhours.Butwhatamiserablerevelationshehasmadeofherself——cowardicethismorning——fraudthisafternoon,andcoldselfishness,thatcanamuseitselfwiththemortificationandmisfortunesofothers,thisevening.Thisisthemoralsideofthepicture.ButwhenIcameto'speer'aroundtoseewhethershehadanymindorrealculture,theexhibitionwasstillmorepitiable.Yegods!thatagirlcanlivetoherageandknowsolittlethatisworthknowing!Sheknowshowtodress——thatis,howtoenhanceherphysicalbeauty;
　　andthat,Iadmit,isagreatdeal.Asfarasitgoesitiswell.
　　Butofthetasteofabeautifuland,atthesametime,intellectualandhighlycultivatedwoman,shehasnoconception;withheritisaquestionoffleshandbloodonly."
　　"Iwonderifitwilleverbeotherwise?Iwonderifhermarvellousbeauty,whichisnowlikeabuddingrose,thatpartlyconcealstheworminitsheart,willsoon,liketheoverblownflower,revealsoclearlywhatmarsitslifethatscarcelyanythingelsewillbenoticed.Whatafateforaman——tobetiedforlifetoawomanwhowill,withsuregradation,passfromatleastoutwardbeautytoutterhideousness!Beauty,inacaselikethis,isbutamaskwhichtimeortheloathsomefingersofdiseasewouldsurelystripoff;andthenwhatanobjectwouldconfrontthedisenchantedlover!
　　Itwouldbelikemarryingadisguiseddeath's-head.NeverbeforedidIrealizehowessentialismentalandmoralculturetogivevaluetomereexternalbeauty.
　　"Andyetsheseemstohaveakindofquicknessandaptness.Sheisnotwantinginwomanlyintuition.Istillaminclinedtobelieveshehasbeendwarfedbycircumstancesandherwretchedassociations.
　　Hermindhasbeengivennobettermeansofdevelopmentthantheknowledgeofherbeauty,thegeneralandsuperficialhomagethatitalwaysreceives,thelittleroundofthoughtthatcentresaboutself,andthedailyquestionofdress.That'snarrowingtheworlddowntoacagelargeenoughonlyforapoll-parrot.Ifthebirdwithinhasaparrot'snature,whatistheuseofopeningthedoorandshowingitlarkssinginginthesky?Ifearthat'swhatI'mtryingtodo,andthatIshallgobacktomyfallworkwithameagreportfolioandagrudgeagainstnature,formockingmewiththefairestbrokenpromiseevermade."
　　ChapterXIV.ARevelation.
　　Thenextdaythreatenedtobeadrearyone,fortherainfellsosteadilyastomakeallsunny,out-of-doorpleasuresimpossible.
　　Manylookedabroadwithfacesasdismalandcloudyasthesky;
　　forthenumberofthosewhoriseabovetheircircumstanceswithacheerycouragearebutfew.Humanfacescanshine,althoughthesunbeclouded;but,asarule,theshadowfallsonthefacealso,andtheregalspiritsuccumbslikeaclodofearth.
　　Thepeoplecamestragglingdownlatetobreakfastinthedarkmorning,and,withachildishegotismthatconsidersonlyselfandimmediatedesires,theloweringweatherwhichmeantrenewedbeautyandwealthtoalltheland,wasberatedasifitwereasmallspiteagainstthehandfulofpeopleattheLakeHouse.VanBergheardIdaMayhewexclaimingagainstthecloudsasifthisspitewereaimedatherselfonly.
　　"Someofherfriendsmightnotventurefromthecity,"shesaid.
　　"Theyyouthsarenotventuresome,then,"remarkedStanton,whoneverlostanopportunitytotease.
　　"Ofcoursetheydon'twishtogetwet,"shepouted.
　　"AndyetI'llwageranyamountthattheyarenotofthe'saltoftheearth'inanyscripturalsense.Well,theyhadbetterstayintown,forthiswouldbeaninstanceof'muchventured,nothinggained.'"
　　"Youremindmeofacertainfoxwhocouldnotsayenoughhardthingsaboutthegrapesthatwereoutofreach.Butmarkmywords,Mr.
　　Sibleywillcome,ifitpours."
　　"Hewouldn'triskthespoilingofhisclothesforanywomanliving."
　　"Youjudgehimbyyourself.Oh,dear,howshallIgetthroughthislong,horribleday!Youmencansmokelikebadchimneysthroughastorm,butformethereisnoresourceto-day,butadullnovelthatI'vereadoncebefore.Letmesee,I'llreadanhourandsleepthree,andthenitwillbetimetodressfordinner.Oh,good-morning,Mr.VanBerg,"shesaystotheartistwhohadbeenlisteningtoherwhileapparentlygivingcloseattentiontoMrs.
　　Mayhew'sinterminabletiradeagainstrainydays;"Ihavejustbeenenvyingyougentlemenwhocankillstupidhoursbysmoking."
　　"Iadmitthatitisalmostasbadassleeping."
　　"Iseethatyouhaveahomilypreparedonimprovingthetime,soIshallescapeatonce."
　　OnthestairsshemetMissBurton,whowasdescendingwithabreezyswiftnessasifsheweremakingachargeonthegeneralgloomandsullennessoftheday.
　　"Good-morning,MissMayhew,"shesaid;"I'mgladtoseeyoulookingsowellafterthesevereshakingupyouhadyesterday.Youwouldalmosttemptonetobelievethatroughusageissometimesgoodforus."
　　"Ihavenosuchbelief,Iassureyou.Yesterdaywasbadenough,butto-daypromisestobeworse.Iwasgoingtomakeupaboatingparty,butwhatcanonedowhenthewaterisoverheadinsteadofunderthekeel?"
　　"Scoresofthings,"wasthecheeryreply."I'mgoingtohaveagoodtime."
　　"I'mgoingtosleep,"saidIda,passingon.
　　"MissBurton,"saidStanton,joiningheratthefootofthestairs,"Iperceive,evenfromyourmannerofdescendingtoourlowerworld,thatyouaredestinedtovanquishthedullnessofthisrainyday.
　　Don'tyouwishanally?"
　　"Wouldyoubeanally,Mr.Stanton,ifyousawIwasdestinedtobevanquished?"
　　"OfcourseIwould."
　　"Lookintheparlorthen.Thereareatleastadozenladiesalreadyvanquished.Theyareoppressedbythefoul-fiend,'ennui.'
　　Transferyourchivalricoffertothemanddeliverthem."
　　"Stanton,"laughedVanBerg,"youareinhonorboundtodevoteyourselftothoseoppressedladies."
　　"TheprospectissodarkanddepressingthatIshallatleastcheermyselffirstwiththelightofacigar."
　　"Andsoyourchivalrywillendinsmoke,"shesaid.
　　"Yes,MissBurton,thesmokeofbattle,whereyouareconcerned."
　　"Ifearyourwitisreadierthanyoursword.Thesoldierthatboastshowhewouldoverwhelmsomeotherfoethantheonebeforehimlosescredittothedegreethatheprotests."
　　"Youaremoreexacting,MissBurton,thantheladywhothrewherglovedownamongthelions.WhatchancewouldHerculeshimselfhaveofliftingthosetwelveheavyfemalesoutofthedumps?"
　　"It'snotwhatwedo,butwhatweattempt,thatshowsourspirit."
　　"ThenIshallexpecttoseeyouattemptgreatthings."
　　"I'monlyawoman."
　　"AndI'monlyaman."
　　"Onlyaman!whatgreatervantage-groundcouldonehavethantobeaman?"
　　"Theadvantageisnotsouncommonthatoneneedbeundulyelated,"
　　stateStantonwithashrug."Iforgethowmanyhundredmillionsofusthereare.ButI'mcurioustoseehowyouwillsetaboutrenderingthehuesofthisleadendayprismatic."
　　"Onlybybeingtheinnocentcauseofyourhighlycoloredlanguage,Iimagine."
　　"Oh,dear,"exclaimedalittleboypetulantly,ashestrolledthroughthehallandlookedoutatthesteadydownfallofrain."Ohdear!
　　Whycan'titstopraining?"
　　"There'sthephilosophyofourtimeforyouinanutshell,"saidVanBerg."Whenahumanatomwantsanything,whatbusinesshastheuniversetostandinitsway?"
　　"Butyouhavenobetterphilosophytoofferthedisconsolatelittlefellow,Mr.BanBerg?"MissBurtonasked.
　　"Now,Van,it'syourturn.Remember,MissBurton,hehasthesamevantage-groundthatIhave.Indeedhe'shalfaninchtaller."
　　"Theworldlongagolearnedbetterthantomeasuremenbyinches,Mr.Stanton."
　　"Alas,MissBurton,"saidVanBerg;"thebestphilosophyIhaveisthis:whenitrains,letitrain."
　　"AndthusI'mprivilegedtomeetrepresentativesofthosetwoancientandhonorableschools,theStoicandEpicurean,andyouboththink,Ifear,thatifXanthippehadfoundedaschool,myphilosophywouldalsobedefined.ButperhapsyouwillthinkbetterofmeifItellthatlittlefellowastorytopassthetimeforhim.What'sthematter,littlefolk?"sheasked,fortwoorthreemoresmallcloudedfaceshadgatheredatthedoor.
　　"Matterenough,"saidtheboy."Thishorridoldrainkeepsusinthehouse,wherewecan'tdoanythingorstayanywhere.Wemustn'tplayintheparlor,wemustn'tmakeanoiseinthehalls,wemustn'trunonthepiazzas.I'dliketoliveinaworldwheretherewassomeplaceforboys."
　　"Poorchild,"saidMissBurton;"thisrainisasbadforyouasthedelugetoNoah'sdove,ithasleftyounorefugeforthesoleofyourfoot.Willyoucomewithme?Noonehassaidyoumustnothearajollystory."
　　"Youwon'ttellmeaboutanygoodlittleboyswhodiedwhentheywereasbigasIam?"
　　"I'llkeepmyword——itshallbeajollystory."
　　"Maywehearittoo?"askedtheotherchildren.
　　"Yes,allofyou."
　　"Whereshallwego?"
　　"Wewon'tdisturbanyoneinthefarcorneroftheparlorbythepiano.Ifyouknowofanyotherlittlepeople,youcanbringthemthere,too,"andtheyeachdartedoffinsearchofespecialcronies.
　　"Maywenothearthestoryalso?"askedStanton.
　　"No,indeed,Imaybeabletointerestchildren,butnotphilosophers."
　　"Thenwewillgoandmeditate,"saidVanBerg.
　　"Yes,"sheadded,"andinaccordancewithaNewYorkcustomofgreatantiquity,madefamiliartoyou,nodoubt,bythatgravehistorianDiedrichKnickerbocker,whogivesseveralgraphicaccountsofsuchcloudyruminationsonthepartofyourcity'sgreat-grandfathers."
　　"IfearyouthinkthattheworshipfulPeterStuyvensant'scounsellorsindulgedinmoretobaccothanthought,andthatthemajorityofthemhadasfewideasasoneofMr.Burleigh'schimneys,"saidVanBerg."Andyouregardusasthedirectdescendantsofthesemen,whoseliveswerecrownedwithsmoke-wreathsonly."
　　"Now,Mr.VanBerg,youproveyourselftobeaphilosopherofamodernschool,youdrawyourinductionssofarandwidefromyourdiminutivepremise."
　　"Well,MissBurton,youstandinveryfavorablecontrastwithuspoormortals.Wearegoingouttoaddtothecloudsthatlowerovertheworld,whileyouaretryingtobanishthem."
　　"Andif,afterhelpingthechildrentowardsthecloseofthisdismalday,yourheartshouldrelenttowardsus,"addedStanton,"youwillfindtwoworthyobjectsofyourcharity."
　　"Ohwhatafallingoffishere!"sheexclaimed,followingtheimpatientchildren."Knightsatfirst,thenphilosophers,andnowobjectsofcharity."
　　MissBurtonevidentlykeptherword,andtolda"jollystory,"forthefriendssawthroughtheparlorwindowsthatthecirclearoundhergrewlargerandmorehilariouscontinually.Thenwouldfollowmomentsofraptandeagerattention,showingthatthetalegainedinexcitementandinterestwhatitlostinhumor.Youngpeople,whodidnotliketobeclassedwithchildren,onebyoneyieldedtothetemptation.Therewaslifeandenjoymentinthatcorneranddulnesselsewhere,andnothingissoattractiveintheworldasgenuineandjoyouslife.
　　Evenelderlyladieslookedwistfullyupattheoccasionalburstsofcontagiousmerriment,andthensighedthattheyhadlostthepoweroflaughingsoeasily.
　　Atlastthemarvelouslegendcametoanendamidaroundofprolongedapplause.
　　"Another,another!"wasthegeneraloutcry.
　　ButMissBurtonhadobservedthattheladiesandgentlemenpresentseemedinclinedtobefriendlytowardstheyoungpeople'sfun,andthereforeshebroachedanotherschemeofpleasurethatwouldvarytheentertainment.
　　"Perhaps,"shesaid,"yourpapasandmammasandtheothergoodpeoplewillnotobjecttoanold-fashionedVirginiareel."
　　Ashoutofwelcomegreetedthisproposition.
　　MissBurtonraisedherfingersoimpressivelythattherewasaninstanthush.Indeedsheseemedtohavegainedentirecontrolofthelargeandmiscellaneousgroupwhichsurroundedher.
　　"Wewilldrawupapetition,"shesaid;"forwebestenjoyourownrightsandpleasureswhenrespectingthoseofothers.Thislittleboyandgirlshalltakethepetitionaroundtoalltheladiesandgentlemenintheroom,andthisshallbethepetition:
　　"'Dearladyandkindsir:Pleasedon'tobjecttoourdancingaVirginiareelintheparlor.'"
　　"Allwhowishtodancecansignit.Nowwewillgototheofficeanddrawupthepetition."Andawaytheyallstarted,theyoungerchildren,wildwithglee,caperinginadvance.