g of the ventilation. As often as
Maurice saw Louise, she was with Herries. At first, she had at least
made a feint of dancing with other people; now she openly showed her
preference. Always this dapper little man, with the violets and the
simpering smile.

They were the two best dancers in the hall. Louise, in particular, gave
herself up to the rhythm of the music with an abandon not often to be
seen in a ball-room. Something of the professional about it, said
Maurice to himself as he watched her; and, in his own estimation, this
was the hardest thought he had yet had of her.

At supper, he sat between the two little sisters, whose birdlike
chatter acted upon him as a reiterated noise acts on the nerves of one
who is trying to sleep. He could hardly bring himself to answer
civilly. At the further end of the table, on the same side as he, sat
Louise. She was with those who had been her partners during the
evening. They were drinking champagne, and were very lively. Maurice
could not see her face; but her loud, excited laugh jarred on his ears.

Afterwards, the same round was to begin afresh, except that the sisters
had generously introduced him to a friend. But when the first dance was
over, Maurice abruptly excused himself to his surprised partner, and
made his way out of the hall.

At the disordered supper-table, a few people still lingered; and
deserters were again knocking balls about the green cloth of the
billiard-table. Maurice went past them, and up a flight of stairs that
led to a gallery overlooking the hall. This gallery was in
semidarkness. At the back of it, chairs were piled one on top of the
other; but the two front rows had been left standing, from the last
concert held in the building, and here, two or three couples were
sitting out the dance. He went into the extreme corner, where it was
darkest.

At last he was alone. He no longer needed to dance with girls he did
not care a jot for, or to keep up appearances. He was free to be as
wretched as he chose, and he availed himself unreservedly of the
chance. It was not only the personal slight Louise had put upon him
throughout the evening, making use of him, as it were, to the very
door, and then throwing him off: but that she could be attracted by a
mere waxen prettiness, and well-fitting clothes--for the first time,
distrust of her was added to his hurt amazement.

He had not been in his hiding-place for more than a very few minutes,
when the doo