two next

[mhmircea]

Hi,
I am not sure about the mining of two in the next context frm Proud and Prejudice:
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So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next.
Then the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the _Boulanger_--"
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Thanks,
Mircea

[MrPedantic]

Hello M.,

At that time, dances were arranged in sets of two. So you would "book" a partner for the first two dances of the evening; then the next two dances; then the third set of two dances; and so on.

Let me know if it's still obscure!

All the best,

MrP

[mhmircea]

Thanks,
Mircea

[BobK]

Originally Posted by MrPedantic

... So you would "book" a partner for the first two dances of the evening; then the next two dances; then the third set of two dances; and so on....

Well-chosen words, as usual. Young ladies at a ball would have a little booklet with a pencil attached, so that they could keep a record of commitments they'd made.

b