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Yet, you have no real desire to be remembered. You are not the reeve, for whom appearances are everything, nor do you have anything to prove. If you have acquired a fortune, you know that it was partly by the stint of hard work and careful judgement, but mostly by luck. This party is merely an occasion--so rare for the commoners--to make merry. Let them remember that, if nothing else.
So the fateful day comes. By Gordon's insistence the party will be held at his father's tavern (both inside and out). By your own insistence, the ingredients for the food were all purchased from the Wescotts (with Gordon as the liaison). With this, they should be able to pay off all their remaining debts.
The party ends up a great success. Everyone that attends (and that includes even some people who come down from the castle) enjoys themselves. The only person missing from the festivities is your uncle, who, complaining of a headache the night before decided to stay in bed, and had promised to "come in later". The party goes on till late in the night, so he has plenty of time, but he never does show.
The main event of the night, is, of course, the country dance. The older folks, husbands and wives, go first, to break the ice for the youngsters. They line up in two neat rows, women one side, men opposite them. They claps one another's hands and raise them above their heads and move in synchrony, forward and back, forward and back, the ones in front breaking off to join the back of the line. Occasionally, the dancers with more skill and balance will go down the middle, doing a cartwheel or walking on their hands, to the great delight of the others.
When the younger folk form their lines, you have no intention of joining them, but it seems your newfound wealth has made you something of a target to all the mothers of unmarried daughters. They would have you dance as though their own lives depended on it. None is more insistent than Mabel's mother, Ginny (though Mabel feels anything but). You also spot Amelia in the crowd (with her father) who holds your gaze with an intense look.
You decide to:
>Refrain from dancing. You don't want give anyone the wrong idea about your interest (of which you have none).
>Dance with Amelia, she seems like she wants to tell you something in private.
>Dance with Mabel. The safe choice (since she hates your guts) that will put everyone else off your back.
>Dance with the Haroldson's nurse. No one here knows her very well (including yourself) so no gossip can ensue.
>Write-in
