voices were "heard off," as they say in the directions for theatricals,
whereupon they sprang up and hurried out like "guilty things upon a
fearful summons."

By that time I was more dead than alive, but I did manage to crawl out
of my prison, and creep up to my room by a back stairway which the
servants use. But it was very late now, and people were going, even the
young ones who love dancing. As soon as I was able, I scuttled out of my
ball dress and into a dressing gown. Also I undid my hair, which is my
one beauty, and let it hang over my shoulders, streaming down in front
on each side, so that nobody would know one shoulder is higher than the
other. It wasn't that I was particularly anxious to appear well before
Di (though I have enough vanity not to like the contrast between us to
seem too great, even when she and I are alone), but because I wanted her
to think, when she came to my room, that I'd been there a long time.

I was sure she would come and peep in at the door, to steal away if she
found me asleep, or to enquire how I felt if I were awake.

By and by the handle of the door moved softly, just as I had expected,
and seeing a light, Di came in. It was late, and she had danced all
night, but instead of looking tired she was radiant. When she spoke, her
voice was as gay and happy as Ivor's had been when he first came into
Lord Mountstuart's study with the Foreign Secretary.

I said that I was much better, and had had a nice rest; that if I hadn't
wanted to hear how everything had gone at the ball, I should have been
in bed and asleep long ago.

"Everything went very well," said she. "I think it was a great success."