The ball proceeded pleasantly. The anxious cares, the incessant attentions of Mrs. Weston, were not thrown away. Everybody seemed happy; and the praise of being a delightful ball, which is seldom bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be, was repeatedly given in the very beginning of the existence of this. Of very important, very recordable events, it was not more productive than such meetings usually are. There was one, however, which Emma thought something of.⁠—The two last dances before supper were begun, and Harriet had no partner;⁠—the only young lady sitting down;⁠—and so equal had been hitherto the number of dancers, that how there could be anyone disengaged was the wonder!⁠—But Emma’s wonder lessened soon afterwards, on seeing Mr. Elton sauntering about. He would not ask Harriet to dance if it were possible to be avoided: she was sure he would not⁠—and she was expecting him every moment to escape into the cardroom.