'We had better go back now, and remember, you
promise to do for her anything I ask of you.'
'Of course,' he said, 'but I shall do it wrong.'
She laid her hand on his arm. 'It must be done rightly. It must. It
will be. Now take me back.'
He resigned her unwillingly, for he felt that she was his strength, to
the partner who claimed her, but as she prepared to dance, Charles
returned hurriedly and, ignoring the affronted gentleman who had
already clasped her, he said anxiously, 'This service--what is it? Is
there something wrong?'
She looked deeply into his eyes. 'There must not be.'
And now, for him in the sea of dancers, there were two dark heads
bobbing among the waves.
The hours sped by; the lavish supper was consumed; dresses and flowers
lost their freshness; the musicians lost their energetic ardour; the
man at the piano was seen to yawn cavernously above the keys. The
guests began to depart, leaving an exhausted but happy Mrs. Batty. She
had been complimented by Miss Mallett on the perfection of her
arrangements, on the brilliance of the assembly, on the music and even
on the refreshments, and Mrs. Batty had blessed her own perseverance
against Mr. Batty's obstinacy in the matter of the supper. He had
wanted light refreshments and she had insisted on a knife-and-fork
affair, and Miss Caroline had actually remarked on the wisdom of a
solid meal. She had no patience with snacks. Mrs. Batty intended to
lull Mr.
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