However, there was no time to think more about the matter, for the fiddles and harp began in real earnest. Away went Mr. Pickwick⁠—hands across⁠—down the middle to the very end of the room, and halfway up the chimney, back again to the door⁠—poussette everywhere⁠—loud stamp on the ground⁠—ready for the next couple⁠—off again⁠—all the figure over once more⁠—another stamp to beat out the time⁠—next couple, and the next, and the next again⁠—never was such going; at last, after they had reached the bottom of the dance, and full fourteen couple after the old lady had retired in an exhausted state, and the clergyman’s wife had been substituted in her stead, did that gentleman, when there was no demand whatever on his exertions, keep perpetually dancing in his place, to keep time to the music, smiling on his partner all the while with a blandness of demeanour which baffles all description.