ten o'clock
The military enjoyed the monopoly of a table next the rail dividing the dancing from the dining space . There the tight-laced Herr Hauptmanns and Herr Lieutenants sat at their sausage and beer and cigars in the intervals of the waltzes , and strengthened themselves for a foray among the gracious Fraus and Frauleins on the benches lining three sides of the dancing-space . From the gallery above many civilian spectators looked down upon the gayety , and the dress-coats of a few citizens figured among the uniforms . As the evening wore on some ladies of greater fashion found their way to the dancing-floor , and toward ten o'clock it became rather crowded . A party of American girls showed their Paris dresses in the transatlantic versions of the waltz . At first they danced with the young men who came with them ; but after a while they yielded to the custom of the place , and danced with any of the officers who asked them . `` I know it 's the custom , '' said Mrs. March to Miss Triscoe , who was at her side in one of the waltzes she had decided to sit out , so as not to be dancing all the time with Burnamy , `` but I never can like it without an introduction . ''