The orchestra stopped with a flourish of the cornet, and at once a great crowding and pushing began amidst a vast hum of talk.

The cards were being filled up, a swarm of men gathered about each of the more popular girls, passing her card from hand to hand while she smiled upon them all helplessly and good-naturedly.

The dance-cards had run short and some of the men were obliged to use their visiting cards; with these in one hand and the stump of a pencil in the other, they ran about from group to group, pushing, elbowing, and calling over one another's heads like brokers in a stock exchange.
Geary, however, walked about calmly, smiling contentedly, very good-humoured.

From time to time he stopped such a one of the hurrying, excited men as he knew and showed him his card made out weeks before, saying, "Ah, how's that?
_I_ am all fixed; made all my engagements at the last one of these affairs, even up to six extras.

That's the way you want to rustle." Young Haight was very popular; everywhere the girls nodded and smiled at him, many even saving a place on their cards for him before he had asked.
Ellis took advantage of the confusion to disappear.