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〃I think it's marvellous to be still going on；〃 she said kindly。
〃Kind little lady；〃 said the fat man； and he pressed her a little closer；
and hummed a bar of the waltz。 〃Of course；〃 he said； 〃you can't hope to
last anything like as long as that。 No…o；〃 said the fat man； 〃long before
that you'll be sitting up there on the stage； looking on； in your nice black
velvet。 And these pretty arms will have turned into little short fat ones；
and you'll beat time with such a different kind of fana black bony one。〃
The fat man seemed to shudder。 〃And you'll smile away like the poor old
dears up there； and point to your daughter； and tell the elderly lady next to
you how some dreadful man tried to kiss her at the club ball。 And your
heart will ache； ache〃the fat man squeezed her closer still； as if he really
was sorry for that poor heart〃because no one wants to kiss you now。
And you'll say how unpleasant these polished floors are to walk on； how
dangerous they are。 Eh； Mademoiselle Twinkletoes？〃 said the fat man
softly。
Leila gave a light little laugh； but she did not feel like laughing。 Was
itcould it all be true？ It sounded terribly true。 Was this first ball only
the beginning of her last ball； after all？ At that the music seemed to
change； it sounded sad； sad； it rose upon a great sigh。 Oh； how quickly
things changed！ Why didn't happiness last for ever？ For ever wasn't a
bit too long。
〃I want to stop；〃 she said in a breathless voice。 The fat man led her to
the door。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I won't go outside。 I won't sit down。 I'll just stand
here； thank you。〃 She leaned against the wall； tapping with her foot；
pulling up her gloves and trying to smile。 But deep inside her a little girl
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threw her pinafore over her head and sobbed。 Why had he spoiled it all？
〃I say； you know；〃 said the fat man； 〃you mustn't take me seriously；
little lady。〃
〃As if I should！〃 said Leila； tossing her small dark head and sucking
her underlip。。。
Again the couples paraded。 The swing doors opened and shut。 Now
new music was given out by the bandmaster。 But Leila didn't want to
dance any more。 She wanted to be home； or sitting on the veranda
listening to those baby owls。 When she looked through the dark
windows at the stars； they had long beams like wings。。。
But presently a soft； melting； ravishing tune began； and a young man
with curly hair bowed before her。 She would have to dance； out of
politeness； until she could find Meg。 Very stiffly she walked into the
middle； very haughtily she put her hand on his sleeve。 But in one minute；
in one turn； her feet glided； glided。 The lights； the azaleas； the dresses；
the pink faces； the velvet chairs； all became one beautiful flying wheel。
And when her next partner bumped her into the fat man and he said；
〃Pardon；〃 she smiled at him more radiantly than ever。 She didn't even
recognise him again。
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11。 THE SINGING LESSON。
With despaircold； sharp despairburied deep in her heart like a
wicked knife； Miss Meadows； in cap and gown and carrying a little baton；
trod the cold corridors that led to the music hall。 Girls of all ages； rosy
from the air； and bubbling over with that gleeful excitement that comes
from running to school on a fine autumn morning； hurried； skipped；
fluttered by； from the hollow class…rooms came a quick drumming of
voices； a bell rang； a voice like a bird cried； 〃Muriel。〃 And then there
came from the staircase a tremendous knock…knock…knocking。 Some one
had dropped her dumbbells。
The Science Mistress stopped Miss Meadows。
〃Good mor…ning；〃 she cried； in her sweet； affected drawl。 〃Isn't it
cold？ It might be win…ter。〃
Miss Meadows； hugging the knife； stared in hatred at the Science
Mistress。 Everything about her was sweet； pale； like honey。 You wold
not have been surprised to see a bee caught in the tangles of that yellow
hair。
〃It is rather sharp；〃 said Miss Meadows； grimly。
The other smiled her sugary smile。
〃You look fro…zen；〃 said she。 Her blue eyes opened wide； there came
a mocking light in them。 （Had she noticed anything？）
〃Oh； not quite as bad as that；〃 said Miss Meadows； and she gave the
Science Mistress； in exchange for her smile； a quick grimace and passed
on。。。
Forms Four； Five； and Six were assembled in the music hall。 The
noise was deafening。 On the platform； by the piano； stood Mary Beazley；
Miss Meadows' favourite； who played accompaniments。 She was turning
the music stool。 When she saw Miss Meadows she gave a loud； warning
〃Sh…sh！ girls！〃 and Miss Meadows； her hands thrust in her sleeves； the
baton under her arm； strode down the centre aisle； mounted the steps；
turned sharply； seized the brass music stand； planted it in front of her； and
gave two sharp taps with her baton for silence。
〃Silence； please！ Immediately！〃 and； looking at nobody； her glance
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swept over that sea of coloured flannel blouses； with bobbing pink faces
and hands； quivering butterfly hair…bows； and music…books outspread。
She knew perfectly well what they were thinking。 〃Meady is in a wax。〃
Well； let them think it！ Her eyelids quivered； she tossed her head；
defying them。 What could the thoughts of those creatures matter to some
one who stood there bleeding to death； pierced to the heart； to the heart； by
such a letter
。。。〃I feel more and more strongly that our marriage would be a mistake。
Not that I do not love you。 I love you as much as it is possible for me to
love any woman； but